Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ Set to Dominate the Box Office This Weekend

This weekend, the box office is poised for a significant boost with the simultaneous release of Universal Pictures‘ ‘Wicked‘ and Paramount Pictures‘ ‘Gladiator II‘. These highly anticipated films are expected to draw large audiences, similar to the phenomenon seen last year with the release of ‘Barbie‘ and ‘Oppenheimer‘, which created the viral “Barbenheimer” sensation.

‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu, tells the origin story of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and is projected to perform exceptionally well. Estimates suggest it could open with a domestic weekend total ranging from $100 million to $150 million, with some sources predicting as high as $125 million to $140 million in the United States and Canada.

In contrast, ‘Gladiator II’, directed by Ridley Scott, is expected to open with a domestic weekend total between $60 million and $75 million, although studio projections are slightly lower at around $60 million. Despite not receiving the same level of critical acclaim as ‘Wicked’, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 73% compared to ‘Wicked’s 91%, ‘Gladiator II’ is still anticipated to perform well due to its strong fan base and the enduring popularity of the ‘Gladiator’ franchise.

The release of these films comes at a critical time for the movie industry, which has seen a decline in domestic box office revenue this year, down 11% from the same period in 2023. The success of ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’, along with the upcoming release of Disney’s ‘Moana 2‘, could help revitalize the box office and set the stage for a strong holiday season.

In addition to the films themselves, merchandise sales for ‘Wicked’ are also expected to be robust, with a wide range of products available, including themed drinks at Starbucks, merchandise at Target, and special promotions at AMC theaters.