Blockbuster Debuts: «Wicked» and «Gladiator II» Dominate Box Office

Hollywood experienced a surge at the domestic box office this weekend with the release of «Wicked» and «Gladiator II,» combining for an estimated $169.5 million in their debut. «Wicked,» projected to earn $114 million, led the charge, while «Gladiator II» amassed $55.5 million in ticket sales, according to industry reports.

Senior media analyst at Comscore, Paul Dergarabedian, emphasized the pivotal role of marketing in the successful opening weekend for both films. «Wicked,» under the distribution of Universal Pictures, and «Gladiator II,» distributed by Paramount Pictures, managed to create a significant cultural momentum reminiscent of the «Barbie» and «Oppenheimer» craze from the previous year, a phenomenon referred to as «Glicked.» Universal and Paramount did not comment on these developments.

The musical adaptation «Wicked» made a robust start on Friday, raking in $46.48 million from 3,888 theaters, achieving the highest opening weekend for a Broadway show adaptation, surpassing Disney’s «Into the Woods.» According to industry insider estimates, it snatched the third position for the highest-grossing debut of 2024.

Meanwhile, «Gladiator II,» a sequel to the 2000 Best Picture winner, set a new record with the largest November opening day for an R-rated film, pulling in $22 million, as reported by Comscore.

«These films have demonstrated the strength of different genres,» Dergarabedian noted, adding that «Gladiator II» appealed to older audiences with its intense action sequences, whereas «Wicked» captivated younger viewers. The distinct appeal and cultural virality of both movies contributed to their strong performance.

Dergarabedian observed, «We’ve seen that two high-profile films can compete simultaneously and still perform excellently at the box office.» This scenario unfolded after a disrupted release schedule earlier due to industry strikes, which affected revenues until the release of «Inside Out 2» this past summer.

Anticipation is high as more titles are set for release in the weeks ahead, including Disney’s «Moana 2,» which points to Hollywood slowly regaining its momentum. «It’s about having solid films in theaters at the right time, merging with the holiday period,» Dergarabedian stated. He predicted these films will remain popular throughout the holiday season.

Dergarabedian attributed part of the industry’s robust recovery to the diverse genres of films released this year. The hit «Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,» distributed by Warner Brothers Discovery, parent company of CNN, earned over $450 million globally. «Certain segments of the audience are being catered to with a wide variety of genres,» he remarked.

Despite a current domestic box office tally at $7.3 billion—down 10.6% from last year—there’s optimism for recovery, with predictions the box office might exceed $8 billion by year’s end. «We’re witnessing improved frequency and consistency in releases; 2025 promises to be a remarkable year for cinema,» Dergarabedian concluded.