- The films “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have collectively grossed $270.2 million worldwide, providing a significant boost to cinemas.
- “Wicked” set a new record for the highest opening for a Broadway musical adaptation, grossing $164.2 million.
- The success of these films brings a ray of hope for theaters in the face of stiff competition from streaming platforms and previous strikes.
NEW YORK — The weekend saw the musical adaptation “Wicked” and the action-packed sequel “Gladiator II” amass a staggering $270.2 million in global ticket sales. This comes as a much-needed boon for cinemas as they gear up for what could be a record-breaking holiday season.
The impressive box office returns have brought a sigh of relief to Hollywood, which has been grappling with budget cuts and layoffs amidst predictions of the demise of cinema due to the rising popularity of streaming services.
“This weekend was eagerly anticipated by movie enthusiasts and box office experts alike, and it did not disappoint,” commented Chris Aronson, the president of distribution for Paramount Pictures.
“Wicked,” the first of two Universal Pictures films based on a Broadway prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” dominated both the domestic and global box office, receiving high praise from critics. It raked in $114 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters, and an additional $50.2 million in international markets, totaling a global gross of $164.2 million.
This marked the most successful opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical, surpassing the global debut of Universal’s 2012 release “Les Miserables,” as per the studio’s records.
Meanwhile, “Gladiator II,” featuring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, garnered $106 million worldwide, including $55.5 million from domestic sales. The Paramount Pictures film is the sequel to a movie that clinched the best picture Oscar two decades ago. The film, which premiered last weekend outside the U.S., has so far amassed a total box office collection of $221 million.
The two films, affectionately dubbed “Glicked” by fans, brought in $169.5 million at domestic theaters, propelling the weekend box office to $201.9 million. This marks the highest-grossing weekend in North America since the July premiere of ”Deadpool & Wolverine,” according to Comscore.
Despite falling short of the $245 million opening frenzy of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July 2023, “Glicked” has proven that the industry is bouncing back from the pandemic and the strikes by writers and actors that year.
Moreover, the success of these two films has injected a much-needed boost into movie theaters, following the underperformance of anticipated fall films like ”Joker: Folie a Deux” and “Venom: The Last Dance” at the box office.
What’s on the horizon?
The excitement surrounding these releases bodes well for theater chains such as AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, who are eagerly awaiting the release of Walt Disney’s animated sequel “Moana 2” this week.
“This is a significant catalyst for a robust box office as we head into December and the New Year,” stated Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Movie ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada have been struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels as cinemas face stiff competition from streaming platforms and the disruptions caused by last year’s Hollywood strikes.
According to Comscore, Sunday’s figures brought the year-to-date domestic ticket sales to $7.3 billion, a decrease of 10.6% compared to the same period in 2023.
However, studios and theater owners are optimistic that “Moana 2” will set the stage for the strongest Thanksgiving-period sales in history.
Box office analysts predict that ticket sales from Thanksgiving through the end of the year could potentially break all previous records. The holiday season record of $2.5 billion was set in 2017, led by the “Star Wars” film ”The Last Jedi.”
“This is the best news that movie theaters could have hoped for, this lineup of films, starting with ‘Glicked’ and ‘Moana 2,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a media analyst for Comscore.
What’s the plot of “Wicked”?
“Wicked” features Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the tale of a misunderstood, green-skinned magic student who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
“While it’s wrapped in a fairy tale, the essence of it is to uncover the real truth,” director Jon M. Chu told Reuters at the film’s premiere in London, when asked about the story’s universal appeal.
Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast, spent approximately $160 million to produce the first “Wicked” movie, a figure that does not include the tens of millions more spent on marketing efforts, ranging from a Super Bowl ad to hundreds of “Wicked” merchandise.
In a marketing campaign reminiscent of the hype surrounding “Barbie,” “Wicked” tie-ins include pink and green drinks at Starbucks, a fashion line at Target, and a Betty Crocker cupcake mix.
“This campaign was omnipresent. It was simply unavoidable,” said Jim Orr, Universal Pictures’ president of domestic theatrical distribution. “And on top of all of that, we had the most dedicated cast you could ask for. From a publicity and marketing perspective, Cynthia and Ariana were literally everywhere.”
The second “Wicked” film is slated for release in November 2025.
Other films set to release before the end of the year include Walt Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and Searchlight Pictures’ “A Complete Unknown,” featuring Timothee Chalamet as musician Bob Dylan.
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