{"id":102061,"date":"2024-12-04T16:07:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T16:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=102061"},"modified":"2024-12-04T16:07:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T16:07:01","slug":"wicked-soundtrack-makes-historic-start-for-a-big-screen-adaptation-of-a-stage-musical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/wicked-soundtrack-makes-historic-start-for-a-big-screen-adaptation-of-a-stage-musical\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Wicked\u2019 Soundtrack Makes Historic Start For A Big-Screen Adaptation of a Stage Musical"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Image credits: Universal Pictures<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film soundtrack debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, the highest debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical ever.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Wicked<\/em> film soundtrack has reached historic heights, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart<\/a>. This remarkable feat makes it the highest debut for a stage-to-screen musical since the chart\u2019s launch in 1956<\/a>. Based on the long-running stage musical of the same name, the film features Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba. The soundtrack also claimed the top spot on Billboard\u2019s Top Album Sales<\/a>, Soundtracks<\/a>, and Vinyl Album<\/a> charts, underscoring its sweeping impact across the music industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the Numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wicked<\/em>\u2019s success is reflected by its impressive first-week sales: 139,000 album equivalent units<\/a>. These units break down into 85,000 pure album sales (39,000 from vinyl alone), with the remaining generated by track and streaming equivalents. The latter accounts for an astonishing 67.66 million streams, marking the largest streaming week ever for a stage-to-screen musical and the biggest for any soundtrack across 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special editions played a significant role in boosting sales, with six vinyl variants and four CD editions, and varying signed copies. Undoubtedly, these unique offerings helped to cement Wicked<\/em>\u2019s place in the record books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smashing Records<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Accompanying the film, the soundtrack has also achieved milestones unmatched by other musicals. It is the first stage-to-screen musical to debut in Billboard 200\u2019s top five in 21 years, since Chicago <\/em>in 2002<\/a>. Impressively, the last musical soundtrack to claim a top-two spot was Les Mis\u00e9rables <\/em>over a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The film, released on November 22, 2024 has also shattered records<\/a>. It claimed the highest grossing Broadway musical adaptation at the US box office, as well as the highest global and domestic opening for lead actors Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and director Jon M. Chu. with a domestic opening weekend gross of $112.5 million<\/a>, it ranked as the third-highest opener of 2024, trailing only Deadpool & Wolverine <\/em>and Inside Out 2<\/em>. Notably, it also secured the biggest global opening for a non-sequel film this year- a striking accomplishment in today\u2019s market full of sequels and nostalgia-fuelled remakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Boost for the Original Broadway Recording<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The theatrical show has played on Broadway in New York since 2003, and buzz surrounding the film has reignited interest in the original Broadway cast recording<\/a>. Released nearly 21 years ago, the cast album leapt from No. 79 to No. 33 on the Billboard 200 chart dated December 7, 2024. This marks only the seventh time in 25 years that a Broadway cast album has reached the top 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original cast recording earned 22,000 equivalent album units in the same week, reflecting a 60% increase. It\u2019s also celebrating its 350th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard\u2019s Cast Albums chart, second only to Hamilton: An American Musical<\/em>, which holds the record <\/em>with 411 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Wicked’ Original Cast Recording reaches a new peak of #33 on this week’s Billboard 200 (22.2K sold).

It originally debuted at #187 upon its release over 20 years ago. pic.twitter.com\/miO9ry4Bdr<\/a><\/p>\u2014 chart data (@chartdata) December 2, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>