“Wicked” broke a record when it opened with an estimated $114 million at the domestic box office this weekend, marking the highest cinematic opening for a Broadway adaptation.
With the highly-anticipated musical now out in theaters, fans are no doubt already wondering when “Wicked” will be available to stream at home.
While a streaming date has not yet been announced, the film will likely land on Peacock, since it’s distributed by Universal Pictures. (Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.) If this is the case, the Broadway adaptation could be available to stream as early as January, as Variety reported in 2021 that Universal films can premiere on Peacock as early as 45 days after their theatrical release date.
However, some Universal movies take longer than 45 days to make their streaming debut. The Universal film “Oppenheimer,” for example, came out in theaters in July 2023 but did not premiere on Peacock until February 2024.
In the meantime, “Wicked” is enjoying strong numbers at the box office as it competes with Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” in what some have dubbed the “Glicked” phenomenon, similar to the “Barbenheimer” craze.
Both movies opened on Nov. 22 with strong numbers, but “Wicked” beat out “Gladiator II,” which opened at an estimated $55.5 million, according to CNBC.
“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, two witches who strike up an unlikely friendship at Shiz University.
Before “Wicked” opened, fans were debating online whether it would be appropriate to sing along in the theater to the movie’s beloved songs, including “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.”
Grande and Erivo weighed in on the sing-along debate in a recent interview with NBC News.
“I say if you come the first time and you sing through, sing through,” Erivo said. “But come a second time and let us sing to you.”
Grande said she supports whatever makes fans “happy,” but also joked that “if someone throws popcorn at you, or their phone or something, maybe stop.”
The jury may still be out on singing along during “Wicked” screenings, but once the movie makes its streaming debut, fans can belt out the songs at home to their hearts’ content.