Ariana Grande’s Wicked: For Good Is the Most Popular Films in America on Peacock

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Okay, let me tell you, this new Ariana Grande movie is everywhere right now. Following up on the surprisingly big hit she had in 2024, this sequel has really taken off – and it’s doing it through streaming. It’s clear audiences are still really interested in what she’s doing, and this time, they’re finding it right in their living rooms.

The second film based on the popular stage musical is now available to stream on Peacock and is quickly becoming a hit, according to FlixPatrol. Like the first movie, it had a theatrical release on November 21st before becoming available digitally on December 31st.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve been following the success of Wicked: For Good! It’s currently doing incredibly well on Peacock here in the U.S., topping the charts. But it’s a little frustrating that it hasn’t hit streaming services internationally yet. Still, people are clearly eager to watch – it’s sitting at number 12 on both Amazon and the Apple TV Store, and even made it to fourth place on Google TV charts in the U.S.! It’s great to see so many options for watching, even if the rollout isn’t consistent everywhere.

Wicked Has Been a Billion-Dollar Affair

Jon M. Chu recently released the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, the popular stage musical created by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman in 2003. While the Broadway show was a critical and commercial hit, enjoying runs in various countries, the movie is now available worldwide and has quickly become a success.

I’m a huge fan of Wicked and Wicked: For Good! It takes the classic story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – you know, the one from the 1939 movie – and tells it from a completely new angle. It’s all about what happened before Dorothy landed in Oz, focusing on the story of a girl named Elphaba. She’s born with green skin and has magical abilities, and she always felt like an outsider until she went to Shiz University, where she finally met and became friends with Glinda.

Cynthia Erivo starred as Elphaba in the 2024 film, earning her an Oscar nomination. Ariana Grande played the role of Galinda, also known as Glinda, and received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film’s cast also featured Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

The 2024 musical was a major financial success, earning $758.8 million globally on a $150 million budget. It also received significant awards recognition, garnering 10 Oscar nominations and winning two: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Critics and audiences alike loved it, as reflected by its 88% critics’ score and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, earning it both a “Certified Fresh” and “Verified Hot” designation.

The sequel, Wicked: For Good, was filmed alongside the first movie and surpassed its box office records, ultimately earning $533.7 million globally and making the Wicked franchise a billion-dollar success. While the film wasn’t recognized by the Academy Awards and received a lukewarm 66% rating from critics, audiences loved it, giving it a strong 92% approval rating.

The differing opinions about Wicked: For Good stem from it not being a traditional sequel. While both stories are connected, For Good represents the second part of the original stage play, and it’s generally considered less action-packed than the first part. It also features fewer memorable songs, with ‘No Good Deed’ and ‘For Good’ being the main standouts.

What’s Next for Wicked?

Given how well the stories have been received, it’s understandable that Universal wants to continue building on that success. Thankfully, they plan to do so without altering the established ending for Glinda and Elphaba as seen in Wicked: For Good.

Earlier this year, Donna Langley, head of NBCUniversal Entertainment, stated that Universal Pictures is looking for opportunities to expand beyond the two successful films. She expressed optimism about finding new ways to build on the established story and characters.

She explained that they work closely with rights holders, only moving forward when those rights holders are prepared – meaning they’ve confirmed the characters and stories can be used. As of now, there’s no official word about a new installment in the Wicked series.

Cynthia Erivo has returned to the stage in London’s West End with her one-woman show, Dracula, impressively playing all 23 characters. The play, directed by Kip Williams, has been well-received by critics. Elsewhere, Ariana Grande is balancing her music career with acting, and she’s joining the cast of the latest Fockers movie, titled Focker in-Law.

Wicked and Wicked: For Good are streaming on Peacock.

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2026-03-21 18:37