Wicked has cast a spell over audiences and airwaves alike. The highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved stage musical premiered on November 22, and its impact has been nothing short of magical. With Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande bringing Elphaba and Glinda to life, the movie has mesmerised moviegoers and taken over the music charts.

Since its release, Wicked has amassed over $500 million in global box office sales, while the film’s soundtrack has dominated Billboard’s Soundtracks chart, holding the No. 1 spot for three consecutive weeks. The album, featuring Erivo, Grande, and other artists, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, setting a record for the highest chart debut ever by a stage-to-screen musical soundtrack. With 321,000 equivalent album units sold in the U.S., it also topped the Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts, cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon.
As the buzz around Wicked grows, two iconic songs from the franchise are lighting up the radio charts. Ariana Grande’s rendition of “Popular” continues to climb, while her duet with Cynthia Erivo on “Defying Gravity” has debuted on both Adult Pop Airplay and Pop Airplay rankings. Written by Stephen Schwartz, these tracks have become the latest example of musical theatre transcending its roots to thrive in mainstream radio, a trend reminiscent of Encanto‘s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which dominated the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022.
With Wicked taking over theaters, soundtracks, and now radio playlists, it’s clear that the magic of Oz is alive and well, proving that this timeless story continues to resonate with audiences everywhere.