"Wicked" and "Gladiator II" Break Box Office Records with $270.2 Million Debut
This past weekend moviegoers were treated to a spectacular double feature with the releases of "Wicked" and "Gladiator II." The two films collectively raked in an impressive $270.2 million at the global box office marking one of the biggest opening weekends of the year.
"Wicked" Takes the Lead
"Wicked" a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the young witches who eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The film debuted with $164.2 million worldwide with $114 million coming from North America and $50.2 million from international markets. This makes it the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical surpassing the previous record held by "Les Miserables".
"Gladiator II" Follows Strongly
"Gladiator II" the long awaited sequel to the 2000 Oscar winning film stars Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal. The action packed epic earned $106 million globally with $55.5 million from domestic sales and $50.5 million from international markets. The film's strong performance overseas helped boost its total to $221 million worldwide.
The "Glicked" Phenomenon
Fans have dubbed the simultaneous release of Wicked and Gladiator II as "Glicked" a play on the words Wicked and Gladiator. This phenomenon mirrors the success of last year's "Barbenheimer" when Barbie and Oppenheimer were released together and collectively earned $245 million in their opening weekend.
Impact on the Box Office
The success of Wicked and Gladiator II has provided a much needed boost to the movie industry which has faced challenges from streaming services and the impact of the pandemic. The strong box office returns have also set a positive tone for the upcoming holiday season with hopes of record setting sales.
Conclusion
With their impressive debuts Wicked and Gladiator II have proven that there is still a strong appetite for big screen entertainment. As movie theaters continue to recover these films offer a promising sign for the future of cinema.
