Reuters reports that the musical “Wicked” and the action epic “Gladiator II” amassed $270.2 million in global ticket sales over the weekend, bolstering cinemas as they approach a potentially record-breaking holiday season.
These strong box office numbers have reassured Hollywood during cost-cutting and layoffs, countering predictions of cinema’s decline as audiences have shifted toward streaming services.
Chris Aronson, president of distribution for Paramount Pictures, expressed enthusiasm about the weekend’s performance, stating, “Moviegoers and box office pundits have been waiting for this weekend, and no one is disappointed.”
“Wicked,” a Universal Pictures production based on a Broadway prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” led domestic and international box offices. It generated $114 million in US and Canadian theatres and $50.2 million abroad, totalling $164.2 million worldwide. This marked the most successful opening weekend ever for a film adapted from a Broadway musical, surpassing Universal’s 2012 release of “Les Miserables.”
“Gladiator II,” also a major hit, earned $106 million globally, including $55.5 million in domestic sales. Following up on its Oscar-winning predecessor two decades ago, this sequel from Paramount Pictures reached $221 million in box office receipts since its international release the previous weekend.
The films, affectionately called “Glicked” by fans, contributed $169.5 million to domestic theatres, elevating the weekend box office to $201.9 million. According to Comscore, this is the highest-grossing weekend in North America since the July premiere of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Despite this success, the combined opening of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” fell short of the $245 million garnered by “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July 2023, a sign of the industry’s recovery from the pandemic and strikes by writers and actors that year.
