Universal's blockbuster musical "Wicked" has enchanted audiences once again, this time on Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD), generating an extraordinary $70 million in its first week of home release. The adaptation, helmed by director Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, made its digital debut on December 31.
The film's PVOD launch shattered records, with an impressive $26 million earned on its first day alone through Premium EST (electronic sell-through) and PVOD sales. This achievement marks Universal's highest-performing Day 1 and first-week figures for any theatrical title with a premium release, doubling the previous record set by "Super Mario Bros Movie."
Universal strategically delayed the digital release to create a New Year's Eve event for families, launching the film 40 days after its theatrical premiere. The studio supported the PVOD release with an extensive promotional campaign, including social media outreach, digital marketing, television spots, and even a Rose Parade float.
The musical continues to perform strongly in theaters, having accumulated $453 million domestically and $686 million worldwide. The Golden Globe-winning film is available for digital ownership at $30 and digital rental at $20, with both options including the original film and sing-along versions.
The success of "Wicked" adds to Universal's impressive PVOD track record, which began in 2020 when the studio pioneered a formal PVOD window for first-run movies. Since implementing this strategy, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group's PVOD releases have generated over $1.5 billion in consumer spending.
The film will maintain its exclusive premium home entertainment window for approximately two and a half months before moving to NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, with Universal anticipating substantial additional sales during this period.