Universal's musical adaptation Wicked has opened at the top of the UK box office.
Jon M. Chu's musical fantasy, which is the first half of a two-part adaptation of the stage production of the same name, debuted with £13.7 million. It covers Act I of the musical and follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda's (Ariana Grande-Butera) friendship at Shiz University in Oz. The film also stars Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Screen Daily reports that Wicked has enjoyed the biggest opening weekend at the UK box office so far this year. Furthermore, the film has become Universal's third-highest opening title, and is the third-biggest debut for a musical at the UK-Ireland box office. Disney hold the top spots with Beauty And The Beast (2017) earning £19.7 million and Frozen 2 (2019) with £15.1 million.
Gladiator II moves down to second, earning £4.7 million in its second week. Down 46.6%, Ridley Scott's epic action sequel has now reached £18.4 million at the UK box office.
For StudioCanal, Paddington In Peru has grossed £4.2 million in its third week, a 38.2% decrease. The adventure comedy, starring Ben Wishaw, has made £24.4 million.
Red One, the Christmas fantasy comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, grossed £822,000 with a drop of 41.2%. Its third-week additions have taken it to £5.8 million. A24's Heretic is in fifth place, adding £205,457 in its fourth week. The psychological horror is down 59.3%, increasing its total to £5.4 million.
In sixth place, Universal's The Wild Robot grossed £181,573, taking its UK box office total to £13.5 million. It is ahead of Small Things Like These starring Cillian Murphy, which made £161,813. The historical drama dropped 50.1% and has now reached £3.5 million in its fourth week.
Watch the trailer for Wicked below.
