The cinematic battleground has officially kicked off as Universal’s much-anticipated musical adaptation, “Wicked Part One,” and Paramount’s epic sequel, “Gladiator II,” vie for audience attention in what promises to be one of 2023’s most lucrative weekends at the box office. Following the record-setting weekend of July 26-28, where “Deadpool” and “Wolverine” raised the industry bar to an impressive $285.3M, this weekend clearly has audiences excited.

Preliminary reports suggest that “Wicked” is enchanting moviegoers, pulling in an impressive estimated $8 million on opening night. Including early previews from Monday’s Amazon promotion and special fan screenings last night, the total for “Wicked” could skyrocket to about $20 million. Given its appeal, particularly among female audiences, ticket sales are expected to hit somewhere between $130 million and $150 million for the weekend, despite its substantial runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes.

For context, the record for the biggest opening for a feature musical belongs to Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake of “The Lion King,” which debuted at $191.7 million with a shorter runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes. Notably, while “Wicked” boasts high critical acclaim with a 90% 'Certified Fresh' rating and a staggering 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, its competition, “Mamma Mia!,” opened at just $27.7 million for its original film.

Universal has executed a marketing strategy for “Wicked” that could put even Disney’s campaign for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" to shame, pouring significant resources into promoting this project, especially given Hollywood's mixed history with Broadway adaptations.

On the other hand, “Gladiator II” has also made a solid entrance with early estimates hitting between $6.5 million and $7 million just for Thursday night. Unlike “Wicked,” Paramount opted for a more limited preview strategy with a soft $200 theater “Screen Unseen” event. The sequel to Ridley Scott’s iconic film has garnered praise as well, holding a respectable 72% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Comparatively, its opening night performance closely mirrors that of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which pulled in $7.2 million.

As we approach the end of the weekend, predictions suggest “Gladiator II” could achieve an opening around $60 million, marking a strong return for this beloved franchise.

Currently, excitement is palpable at theaters across the country. For those eager to experience “Wicked,” spots like the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and venues in Kansas City are brimming with energy. Meanwhile, the AMC in Burbank, CA—a perennial top-grossing theater—reported sellouts for the 6PM IMAX show of “Gladiator II.”

As this epic box office showdown unfolds, film fans are on the edge of their seats, ready to witness which film will secure its place as the weekend’s champion! Don’t miss out—get your tickets now!