Box Office: ‘Wicked’ Heads for Dazzling $100 Million Debut, ‘Gladiator II’ Aims for Muscular $65 Million

As someone who has seen my fair share of blockbusters and Broadway adaptations over the years, I can confidently say that this weekend’s box office battle between “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” is shaping up to be quite the spectacle. While both films have their unique charms, they cater to different audiences – those who love a good musical and those who crave epic sword-and-sandal action.

Is “Glicked” the new “Barbenheimer”?

It’s uncertain if “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” would make an unusual pair for a double feature, much like the simultaneous releases of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” this past summer. Regardless, it appears that there will be a fierce competition at the box office between Universal’s musical with a pink-and-green theme and Paramount’s bloody gladiator sequel, both set to open on Friday.

The upcoming movie “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, is anticipated to open with a strong earnings of around $100 million to $110 million from over 3,880 North American theaters during its first weekend. Initially, it was projected to earn between $80 million and $85 million, but recent estimates have been revised upwards. Given the wide popularity of the stage production, the extensive promotion centered around Oz themes, and partnerships with over 400 brands, industry experts and tracking services predict that the opening weekend ticket sales could reach as high as $130 million. Even a modest start at the lower end of projections would still make it the best debut for a movie based on a Broadway show, currently held by “Into the Woods” (2014) with an opening of $31 million.

Despite “Wicked” likely dominating the domestic box office, Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel to “Gladiator,” titled “Gladiator II,” is expected to perform strongly in the second spot. The R-rated continuation of the 2000 film is targeting a weekend gross of around $65 million from approximately 3,500 theaters. It’s outperforming other large-scale post-pandemic films catering to older male audiences, such as “No Time to Die” (earning $55 million in its debut in 2021) and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (taking in $60.3 million in 2023).

In the global cinema scene, “Gladiator II” has made a strong debut, earning $87 million from 63 different markets worldwide. This impressive opening weekend overseas marks the largest ever for an R-rated film released by Paramount Pictures.

As a fervent admirer, I must share my thoughts on the upcoming cinematic spectacle, “Gladiator II.” This highly anticipated film carries a hefty production budget of over $250 million and an additional $100 million for its promotion. To be considered successful, it must undoubtedly create a stirring impact at the global box office.

The film adaptation of “Wicked” holds tremendous pressure, as Universal has been working on it for over a decade and has seen numerous directors before Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”) took charge. Not only does this musical-based movie have a hefty $150 million budget, but the second part of the two-part story (which also costs an additional $150 million) is set to release in 2025 on the big screen. To ensure audiences return for “Wicked: Part Two” during Thanksgiving 2025, the first film must resonate with viewers. Additionally, “Wicked” faces the challenge that stage musicals have not been box office successes for over a decade. The last ones to make an impact were “Les Miserables” (earning $442 million worldwide in 2012) and “Into the Woods” (grossing $212 million against a $50 million budget in 2014). Recent attempts like Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, Chu’s “In the Heights,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Cats,” and “The Color Purple” have all struggled at the box office despite being based on popular productions.

Without a doubt, “Wicked” is set to break its lengthy streak. The film adaptation stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the musical version of the long-running Broadway hit that unfolds everything prior to Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. Essentially, it functions as both a prequel and sequel to “The Wizard of Oz”, focusing on the improbable bond between Erivo’s character Elphaba (later known as the Wicked Witch of the West) and Grande’s Glinda (who becomes Glinda the Good). Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who penned the tunes and verses for the stage production, are responsible for the screenplay adaptation.

The movies ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator’ are expected to have a big impact at the box office during Thanksgiving, followed by another potential blockbuster, Disney’s ‘Moana 2,’ on November 27. As Glinda would say in her lively musical: ‘How fortunate!’

2024-11-19 22:48

Box Office: ‘Wicked’ Heads for Dazzling $100 Million Debut, ‘Gladiator II’ Aims for Muscular $65 Million

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