Box Office Showdown

In an electrifying box office showdown, Wicked has outperformed Gladiator II during their debut weekend, marking one of the most significant competitions in recent cinematic history. Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II is the highly anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning film that first captured audiences almost a quarter of a century ago. Starring rising star Paul Mescal, the film has been a topic of conversation as it arrives amidst the fervor surrounding Wicked, a captivating adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, which serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

According to Deadline, as of Sunday morning, Wicked has projected domestic earnings of approximately $114 million in its opening weekend, setting a new record for a Broadway adaptation. This figure shatters the previous record held by Into the Woods, which grossed just $31 million in 2014. The success of Wicked not only secures it the title of the best debut for a Broadway transfer but also establishes it as the fourth-best opening weekend for any musical, surpassing early forecasts that predicted a less impactful opening.

On the other hand, Gladiator II just managed to scrape together $55.5 million, falling short of earlier expectations by nearly $5 million and garnering less than half of what Wicked achieved. Adding a layer of complexity to the box office battle, Angel Studios' Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. debuted at No. 4 with $5.1 million, offering a more subtle competition among faith-based films, though it lacks the blockbuster draw of Wicked or Gladiator II.

One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was the fall of last weekend's champion, Red One, which dropped to No. 3 with only $13.3 million, experiencing a staggering 59% decline. The landscape of the box office is notably changing as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, with multiple new releases gyrating the rankings and older titles like Heretic and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever retreating down the chart. The Wild Robot film was also edged out of the top five, ending its impressive eight-week run on the list.

Collectively, the weekend has seen total grosses of $205 million, marking the most successful pre-Thanksgiving weekend in over a decade, reminiscent of the Hunger Games: Catching Fire debut in 2013.

What’s Next for Wicked and Gladiator II?

Both films seem to be positioned for success, albeit each on diverging paths. Gladiator II is set to rake in 1.5 times the original film’s debut of $34.8 million, but it faces a monumental challenge: movies typically need to make back 2.5 times their budget to break even. With Wicked's budget around $150 million and Gladiator II projected between $210 and $250 million, both films must achieve substantial box office milestones to emerge profitable.

Wicked has benefited from a vast advertising campaign and strategic brand partnerships. International box office receipts are yet to contribute to its opening total, suggesting that its financial success could escalate dramatically in the coming weeks. If it continues this trajectory, Wicked could become one of the highest-grossing musical adaptations alongside Mamma Mia! which amassed $609.8 million.

Conversely, while Gladiator II may have a slower buildup, its high production costs make its path to profitability more treacherous. The trajectory implies it could gross upwards of $740 million globally if it maintains pace with the original film's performance.

The Battle is Far From Over

As the dust settles from this opening weekend, the competition between Wicked and Gladiator II is poised to evolve. With upcoming titles like Moana 2 entering the fray midweek, the future remains uncertain. Will Wicked solidify its triumph as the highest-grossing movie musical, or can Gladiator II close the gap? One thing is for sure: which film prevails is a story that definitely isn't finished yet! Keep watching as this cinematic battle continues to unfold!