Wicked and Gladiator 2 Surge, 'Glicked' Falls Short of Barbenheimer

Wicked and Gladiator 2, humorously referred to as 'Glicked,' experienced impressive box office launches but fell short of the unprecedented success of last year's 'Barbenheimer.' Wicked garnered $164.2 million globally, setting records for Broadway adaptations and outpacing competitors like Les Miserables. Meanwhile, Gladiator 2, despite a solid domestic debut of $55.5 million and a global total of $221 million, faces financial scrutiny due to its $250 million production cost. As both films look ahead to further holiday revenues, they highlight the ongoing battle for box office dominance.

Wicked and Gladiator 2 earned a combined total of $270.2 million globally, significantly lower than the $536.8 million achieved by Barbie and Oppenheimer during their opening weekend.

Wicked is based on the acclaimed Broadway musical that tells the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West, bringing a fresh perspective to the classic Wizard of Oz tale. The film, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, adapts only the first act of the musical, with a sequel planned for release in November 2025. Gladiator 2 serves as a follow-up to the iconic 2000 film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, and aims to expand on the narrative established in the original, securing a strong cast led by Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal.