Advance ticket sales of ‘Wicked: For Good’ are double that of ‘Wicked’, say UK exhibitors

Advance tickets to Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good in the UK and Ireland are selling at more than double the rate of 2024’s Wicked, ahead of the film’s opening on November 21, according to UK exhibitors. 

“Anticipation from fans is already sky-high, with pre-sale tickets more than double that of its predecessor,” said Rob Lea, head of screen content at Vue, which has 92 venues across UK and Ireland. 

Lea said the film has already recorded “the biggest pre-sale performance a week from release since 2021’s mega-hit, Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

“Pre-sales have been nothing short of spectacular – currently tracking over 50% above the pre-sales for the last film,” agreed Stuart Crane, vice president of international content at Cineworld Group.

“We’re seeing particular interest in our special formats, with many fans looking to elevate their experience in Imax, 4DX, ScreenX and Superscreen.”

Indie interest

Independent UK venues are reporting similarly rapid pre-sales. “We’re 90% sold out for our opening weekend,” said Dan Ellis, founder and managing director of Jam Jar Cinema, a community-focused venue in Whitley Bay, northeast England.

The venue has 20 screenings programmed across the three-day weekend at its three-screen venue. “We had to back it,” said Ellis. “Wicked was our second-biggest title last year and we knew demand was going to be huge.

”I’m just hoping it isn’t everyone rushing out for the opening weekend but looking at our advance box office it feels to be well sustained.”

Ellis also runs the new Market Pavilion cinema in neighbouring Blyth, where For Good is set to be the biggest film since the venue opened in August. Blyth has turned its town centre pink and green for the week in celebration of the film. “It’s the town’s Christmas lights switch-on at the weekend so it should really help market the film and drive box office,” Ellis added.

Lewes Depot in the south of England has added an extra matinée screening to its usual matinée-evening-evening pattern to cater to For Good demand.

“A number of shows are sold out already and as we get closer to Friday we expect the pre-sale to increase even further,” said Carmen Slijpen, co-founder, creative director and film programmer at the Depot.

“We were keen to offer our audience plenty of choice across the day as well as opportunities to take advantage of our half-price Tuesday offer,” added Slijpen, whose venue is nominated for the inaugural cinema of the year award at this year’s Bifas.

While exhibitors will be glad of strong ticket sales, for independent and arthouse venues it brings the challenge of balancing a mega-blockbuster with their regular programming.

“It’s a struggle - there seems to have been a rush of independent films at the end of October but the next few weeks is focused on key studio tentpole titles,” said Ellis, noting Disney’s Zootropolis 2 (November 28) and Avatar: Fire And Ash (December 19).

“Our programming policy has always been to back the biggest film as it helps us play more varied titles and Q4 2025 will see us through the spring, hopefully.”

“We are at all times aware of the balance of our programme and make sure that there is a film for every customer every week,” said Slijpen.

She pointed to counter-programming titles for the week including Dragonfly, Bugonia, Alpha, Die My Love, Palestine 36, The Choral, Train Dreams and the BFI’s Too Much Melodrama season.

“And we’re looking forward to welcoming Paul Greengrass for an in-person conversation that week too [before a screening of his 2013 thriller Captain Phillips].”

Wicked was the highest-grossing release of 2024 in the UK and Ireland. It opened to a huge £13.7m on the equivalent weekend last year, playing in cinemas well into 2025 and grossing £61.4m in total.

Adapted from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s musical, the film is split into two parts - both directed by John M. Chu - for the two acts of the musical. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo lead the cast, alongside Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode. 

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