Wicked 2 Poised to Outspell the Original with a Bigger Box Office Debut

We called it earlier this week: the new 'Wicked' is flying higher out of the gate than the first one. The early numbers back it up, and it is not exactly a close call.

'Wicked: For Good' blasts past the original

Per Deadline's early estimates, 'Wicked: For Good' is headed for about $151 million this weekend in North America. For context, the first film opened to $112.5 million on its way to a beefy $474 million domestic total. The sequel also landed an A CinemaScore, which is exactly what you want heading into the long Thanksgiving corridor. Its only real competition over the holiday stretch is 'Zootopia 2', so this thing should have legs.

Big, but not the biggest of the year

Even with that monster start, it is not the year's top opening. That crown still belongs to 'A Minecraft Movie' with $162 million. 'Wicked: For Good' should, however, edge past Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch', which debuted with $146 million.

Overseas is heating up too

Internationally, the sequel is looking to add around $76 million this weekend. At that pace, it could even surpass the original's $700 million-plus international haul. That is a massive target, but the early momentum is there.

Meanwhile, the rest of the field

• 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' is down roughly 55% in week two for just under $10 million, pushing its domestic total to just shy of $40 million. (Yes, they really committed to that title.)
• 'The Running Man' is in free fall as expected, looking at at least a 65% drop to about $6 million.
• 'Predator: Badlands' should edge it out with a $6.2 million weekend and a $72 million domestic tally to date.
• Brendan Fraser's 'Rental Family' rolled out semi-wide and is on track for about $3.2 million. Another adult-leaning awards play that is not breaking big, but still far better than face-plants like 'Christy'.
• 'Sisu: Road to Revenge' is pacing around $2.6 million, not far off from the $3.2 million the first film pulled. If the action crowd shows up over the holiday, it could build from there.

What are you seeing this weekend? Hit the comments and tell me what is getting your money.