On November 22, Universal released one of its most highly anticipated films ever, Wicked. The movie starred Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Galinda and Elphaba, respectively. The hit Broadway play-turned-movie tells the story of the relationship between Elphaba and Galinda and how they became known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
Even before its theatrical premiere, fans couldn’t get enough of the trailers, teasers, and behind-the-scenes footage that was being released.
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Originally, Wicked was not supposed to premiere on November 22. Its initial release was scheduled for November 27, 2024. However, as the day inched closer, Universal decided to move the premiere up. The studio reportedly decided to change the date so Wicked would not be released on the same day as one of Disney’s biggest releases — Moana 2.
Moana 2 was originally supposed to be a television series for Disney+. But when Bob Iger and other Disney executives saw the footage, they were so impressed that they decided to turn the series into a full-fledged movie.
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Since the announcement of the unexpected sequel, experts predicted that Moana 2 would be the biggest film of the year, even performing better than Inside Out 2. Inside Out 2 was released in June and took the world by storm. The new Pixar movie grossed more than $1 billion, surpassing every expectation that critics, Wall Street, and even Disney had.
So, on November 27, Moana 2 was released in theaters and, as expected, it is performing incredibly well. It was the top-performing movie over the Thanksgiving holiday and has already broken several records.
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However, in the battle with Wicked, which movie really won?
Well, if you are going strictly by numbers, then Moana 2 is the clear winner. In less than three weeks, the Polynesian Princess and her new movie have grossed more than $680 million at the box office. Wicked, on the other hand, has made slightly over $450 million, which is still very impressive.
Now, if we count success in terms of audience enjoyment and overall reactions, Moana 2 can’t even come close to what Wicked has achieved.
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Wicked has received absolutely stellar reviews, and many fans have said that they have watched the musical more than once. Videos frequently go viral, showing fans dancing to the iconic song “What Is This Feeling ” and reaction videos from “Before Seeing Wicked and After Seeing Wicked.”
Fans love the look of the film, the feel of the world created, and the incredible performances from Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and everyone else in the film.
While audiences enjoyed Moana 2, it has faced its fair share of criticism. The movie only has a 62% critics rating and an 88% audience score. Audiences have said that the film seems disjointed (most likely because it is episodes that have been pieced together) and that the music isn’t as memorable as the first film. Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda wrote the music for the first film, but did not return for the sequel.
Audiences also felt Moana’s new story wasn’t as unique or touching as the first one.
Wicked, in comparison, currently boasts an 88% critics score and a 95% audience score.
So, if we are measuring success based on audience satisfaction, then Wicked is the clear winner for Universal.
However, Moana 2 has been so successful that Disney is sure to continue with her story. The studio is currently in Hawaii, filming the live-action movie, which will be released on July 10, 2026.
Have you seen Wicked and Moana 2 in theaters? Which one did you like best? Share your thoughts in the comments!