The box office for Wicked hits a significant milestone worldwide as it gets ready to surpass Godzilla x Kong and Kung Fu Panda 4.

Wicked is still doing well despite recent box office releases that have caused significant disappointment. The most recent Wizard of Oz musical was too good for the Spider-Man villain and the Tolkien adaption to compete with Kraven the Hunter and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim in the same week. Wicked has already exceeded its $145 million budget following a record-breaking first weekend that raked in over $160 million globally.

It has achieved even more success this past weekend. Variety said that after making $359 million domestically, the musical adaption made over $524 million internationally. It is currently on track to surpass Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Kung Fu Panda 4, which brought in $547.6 million and $571.1 million, respectively. Having significantly outperformed Grease’s $188.62 million total, it is also officially the highest-grossing Broadway adaption in domestic box office history.

What the Box Office Success of Wicked Means

Musicals and animated blockbusters are regaining their position at the box office after ten years of action film supremacy. Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 have taken first and third place for the entire year, while Moana 2 and Wicked are the top films this weekend. With a $1.3 billion box office total, Deadpool & Wolverine is still in second place, but it’s probably the only action film to stay in the top five globally. Dune: Part Two may lose its position when Mufasa: The Lion King is released the following week:

This pattern is probably due to the fact that, other from Deadpool & Wolverine, neither DC nor Marvel have released any successful films this year. With Joker: Folie à Deux, DC tried to duplicate its $1 billion triumph, but it only made $200 million globally. With the exception of Wicked, every film in the top 10 global releases for 2024 has been a sequel, creating a distinct market. Based on a Broadway musical and The Wizard of Oz, Wicked is not a completely original film, but its box office performance does demonstrate that non-sequels may be successful in theaters in today IP-driven landscape.

Todd Haynes was planning to cast Danny Ramirez and Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance movie. However, Phoenix left the untitled production five days before Guadalajara, Mexico, filming got underway.

At the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday night in Los Angeles, Ramirez told Variety’s Marc Malkin, “It’s definitely disappointing.” “If anything,” he continued, “If anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing, and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. So that’s what I’m excited about.”

The movie, which depended on Phoenix’s casting, was in danger after it was revealed in August that he had quit the production, according to sources. Two guys in love in the 1930s who escape Los Angeles and travel to Mexico were the main subject of the NC-17-rated movie.

“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,” Ramirez stated. “The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read… There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.’”

“The most recent update is ‘hopefully.’” Ramirez said in response to a question about whether the movie is still in development with filmmaker Haynes.

In a world that often celebrates strength and success, vulnerability might seem like a weakness—but for Hannah Love, it’s a cornerstone of true personal growth and success. Throughout her journey, Hannah has discovered that embracing vulnerability isn’t just about being open with others; it’s about being honest with yourself. It’s through this honesty that real transformation begins.

Hannah’s life has been shaped by challenges that tested her resilience and forced her to confront deep-seated fears and insecurities. From childhood trauma to the emotional struggles of her twenties, she faced moments where vulnerability was not an option but a necessity. “For a long time, I saw vulnerability as a sign of weakness,” Hannah recalls. “I thought that if I let people see my pain, they would see me as less capable, less strong.”

However, as Hannah began to open up about her experiences, she realized that vulnerability was not her enemy—it was her greatest ally. It allowed her to connect with others on a deeper level, to share her struggles without shame, and to find strength in the very parts of herself that she had once tried to hide. “Vulnerability isn’t about being weak,” she explains. “It’s about being real. It’s about showing up as your true self, no matter how imperfect that self might be.”

One of the most significant lessons Hannah learned is that vulnerability is essential to building meaningful relationships. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for others to do the same. This mutual openness fosters trust and deepens connections, both personally and professionally. “The more I shared my story, the more I realized that others were going through similar struggles,” Hannah says. “By being vulnerable, I wasn’t just helping myself—I was helping others feel less alone.”

In her work as a mental health advocate, Hannah emphasizes the power of vulnerability in healing and personal development. She encourages others to embrace their imperfections, to share their stories, and to see vulnerability as a pathway to growth rather than a hurdle to overcome. “When we hide our true selves, we limit our potential,” she explains. “But when we embrace who we are, flaws and all, we open ourselves up to new possibilities.”

Hannah’s journey also taught her that vulnerability is closely linked to authenticity. For years, she tried to fit into societal molds, hiding her true feelings behind a mask of perfection. But this only led to more pain and disconnection. It was only when she started living authentically—when she stopped trying to be what others expected and started being herself—that she found true success. “Living authentically means embracing your vulnerabilities and showing up as your whole self,” she says. “It’s about being honest with yourself and others, even when it’s hard.”

Through her platform, Hannah continues to advocate for vulnerability as a key to personal and professional success. She believes that when we embrace our vulnerabilities, we not only empower ourselves but also inspire others to do the same. “Success isn’t just about what you achieve,” she explains. “It’s about how you achieve it—by being true to yourself and allowing others to see the real you.”

As Hannah prepares for her TEDx Miami talk, she is eager to share her insights on vulnerability and authenticity with a broader audience. She hopes to inspire others to embrace their true selves and to see vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a source of strength and connection. Her message is clear: in a world that often values perfection, it’s our imperfections—and our willingness to share them—that truly make us successful.