Broadway Grandeur Meets Hollywood's New Era

What if Hollywood finally embraced the power of female-driven narratives and transformed them into blockbuster sensations? Join us as we unravel the magic behind the cinematic triumphs of "Wicked" and "Gladiator 2," where box office success and cultural resonance collide in spectacular fashion. Get ready to explore how these films are redefining the movie landscape by capturing the hearts of women and girls, igniting a nostalgic flame reminiscent of Broadway's grandeur. We'll reminisce about the iconic performances of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth, delving into how the film adaptation of "Wicked" continues to enchant audiences with its theatrical charm and timely themes.

From dissecting the phenomenal marketing strategies that propelled these films into cultural events to examining the rising influence of female audiences, our conversation is a celebration of the changing tides in entertainment. With Hollywood now keenly aware of the potential within musical theater adaptations, we discuss the lessons learned from past attempts and the bold moves being made to ensure success. As we anticipate the release of "Wicked Part 2" next year, we reflect on the nostalgia of grand theatrical experiences that transport audiences to another world. Gather your friends and family, for this is a cinematic journey not to be missed!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:14

yes, it's been a while since I've been doing on my podcast. I just had to let the election go and all the other chazerai that was happening, so I'm back. But I wanted to talk about this article in the Times about Wicked. Wicked is a hit and a likely awards contender. Success of Broadway adaptation alongside Gladiator 2 offers a reminder that the industry must not overlook women and girls like Bobby. Once in a while.

Speaker 1: 0:53

The box office needs a jumpstart and it got one last month with a combined appeal of Wicked and Gladiator 2, two movies aimed at vastly different audiences. That lifted theaters with a combined 169.5 million in ticket sales from their opening weekend. And while it wasn't another Bob or Bob and Hymer moment, no amount of marketing spent can manufacture that kind of viral phenomenon. It kicked off with a strong holiday week for movie going with Disney's Moana 2, opening to record-breaking numbers breaking them we could. John M Chu's adaptation of the first act of the Broadway sensation kicked off the feast with an outstanding $114 million in revenue from the US and Canada, a record for a musical theater adaptation. It added $117.5 million in domestic ticket sales during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, for a total of $262.4 million so far. The film is expected to have a long lifespan in the theater, with universal pictures, counting on fans going out to see it multiple times.

Speaker 1: 2:15

I haven't seen it yet, but I will see it. I was just waiting to the crowd, to. The crowd passes by. Audiences are treating it like a Broadway production by reserving tickets in advance and making an evening of it. They're watching it with friends and family members and going out before or after the show.

Speaker 1: 2:37

Well, ed and me saw the original show oh my God, with Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. Oh my God, with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Oh my God, it was amazing. So I could only imagine how this one will be box office momentum continuing with Moana 2. So basically, analysts have wondering how much Moana might be another music driven. It did great. So a couple of takeaways. I first. Hollywood needs to remember to make stuff for women and girls in particular, as demonstrated by the success of Bobby and Taylor Swift the heiress tour last year. The opening weekend audience for Wicked was 72% female.

Speaker 1: 3:23

The film's PG rating is a bit of a throwback for a big commercial live action film, but it makes sense when you realize how similar it is to something like Frozen. Also, studios need not fear the musical theater adaptation. Sure, musicals can flop like Cats, dear Evan Hansen, but promotional campaigns for movies like Mean Girls seem to downplay their musical elements. Wicked, in contrast, where it's theater, kid energy on its pink sleeve. Another lesson is that if you really think you have a hit on your hands, you have to go for it, baby.

Speaker 1: 4:02

The studio waged a massive marketing campaign putting ariana grande and cynthia or v, I hope I spelled erivo went all out with retail co-branding initiatives, and the company gambled big time by splitting the play into two movies. Wow, the first film, at two hours and 40 minutes, is about as long as the entire play. True that with intermissions, but it mostly works with the climactic number defying gravity, providing a rousing send off. Part two comes a year from now and probably will do a huge business, hello. So this picture has the benefit of being both escapist entertainment and timely, given its political messaging. The stage production debuted in 2003, during the George W Bush administration and the US declared war on terrorism, and the play's critics were as unsettled then as the movies are now.

Speaker 1: 5:07

Ultimately, theatrical movies must differentiate themselves from what audiences can get at home. That means creating events where people will go out, like when I was a kid, and get a little dressed up and exit the theater on an emotional high, humming the tunes, just like with a Broadway spectacular, or even the 1939 Wizard of Oz. In that sense, wicked apart from its CGI wizardry is about as old school as it gets. This was written by Ryan Fonder. I hope I spelled your name right, ryan. Oh, my god, we need more movies like this for us women and girls. We need to go to a movie and just be taken away, just for fun, for a change after our election, don't we? We need to enjoy ourselves in a movie. We all do Girls, women, gay, straight, lesbian, trans, drag, whoever go there and have fun.

Speaker 1: 6:10

Well, I'm going to do that. I'm going to take Ed Ed's, my husband. In case you don't know, I'm going to buy tickets for us and surprise us for the Christmas time, which is just in a few weeks. So don't forget. If nobody told you they love you today, I love you because you're you. What do I always say? Be yourself. If you can't be yourself, who are you going to be? Accept yourself for who you are. And if people don't like you and want to squash you down, defy gravity. Okay, get up and fly away. Baby, I love you.