Wicked box office/ Gladiator II opening weekend/ box office record 2024/ Wicked vs. Gladiator/ Thanksgiving movie hits/ NEW YORK/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The box office saw a much-needed boost as “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” raked in a combined $270 million globally. “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically, breaking records for a Broadway musical adaptation. Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” led by Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, earned $55.5 million domestically and $50.5 million internationally. Both films sparked comparisons to last year’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon.
Box Office Highlights: Quick Looks
- Record Breakers: “Wicked” set a record for Broadway adaptations with $114M domestic debut.
- Global Success: “Gladiator II” secured $55.5M domestically and $50.5M internationally.
- Marketing Blitz: “Wicked” partnered with 400 brands, while “Gladiator II” featured promotions like Colosseum-themed Airbnb stays.
- Thematic Divide: “Wicked” attracted 72% female audiences, while “Gladiator II” drew 61% male.
- Industry Resurgence: Combined with “Moana 2” releasing Wednesday, Thanksgiving could set new records.
‘Wicked’ & ‘Gladiator II’ Dominate Box Office with $270M Global Debut
Deep Look
A weekend of strong debuts for “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” revitalized the box office, which had been struggling after a lukewarm fall season. Together, the films delivered one of the most lucrative weekends of 2024, with combined global ticket sales of $270 million.
‘Wicked’ Soars with Record-Breaking Numbers
Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” became the third-biggest opening weekend of the year, earning $114 million domestically and $164.2 million worldwide. This lavish adaptation of the Broadway hit, directed by Jon M. Chu, leaned heavily on a star-studded cast and an expansive marketing campaign.
The campaign included partnerships with 400 brands, pink and green “Wickedly Delicious” Starbucks drinks, and appearances by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at major events like the Met Gala.
“We’re confident this will play ridiculously well through Christmas and into the new year,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s distribution chief.
Strong reviews and an “A” CinemaScore suggest “Wicked” could maintain momentum despite competition from Disney’s “Moana 2,” which releases Wednesday.
‘Gladiator II’ Conquers Overseas
Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel, “Gladiator II,” debuted with $55.5 million domestically and another $50.5 million internationally. Paramount Pictures’ high-stakes $250 million production returns to the Colosseum with Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal leading a largely new cast.
Although its $55.5 million domestic opening fell slightly short of projections, strong international performance brought its global total to $165.5 million. Critics praised Washington’s magnetic performance, though audience scores were more muted, earning the film a “B” CinemaScore.
“We believed this could succeed, and the global response so far has been promising,” said Paramount executives.
A ‘Barbenheimer’-Lite Weekend
The simultaneous release of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” drew inevitable comparisons to last year’s “Barbenheimer,” when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” generated cultural buzz and box office dominance. However, “Glicked” (as some dubbed this pairing) fell short of matching “Barbenheimer’s” cultural impact and revenue, which saw “Barbie” earn $162 million and “Oppenheimer” $82 million domestically in their opening weekends.
Nevertheless, both films found their audiences, with “Wicked” skewing female (72% of viewers) and “Gladiator II” drawing predominantly male audiences (61%).
Impact on the Industry
The strong performance of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” helped revitalize the struggling box office, which is down 11% compared to last year and 25% below pre-pandemic levels.
David A. Gross, a film consultant, described the weekend as a turning point:
“This weekend’s openers are rejuvenating a box office that fell apart after summer’s successes.”
The Future of Both Films
- ‘Wicked’: Producers have already filmed the second installment, set for release next November, doubling down on the musical’s blockbuster potential.
- ‘Gladiator II’: While the sequel is expected to maintain strong overseas numbers, its domestic appeal may face steeper competition in the coming weeks.
Box Office Numbers (Friday-Sunday Estimates, U.S. and Canada)
- “Wicked”: $114 million
- “Gladiator II”: $55.5 million
- “Red One”: $13.3 million
- “Bonhoeffer: Pastor Spy Assassin”: $5.1 million
- “Venom: The Last Dance”: $4 million
- “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”: $3.5 million
- “Heretic”: $2.2 million
- “The Wild Robot”: $2 million
- “Smile 2”: $1.1 million
- “A Real Pain”: $1.1 million
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