Box Office Records Shattered

In a dazzling display of box office prowess, *Wicked* has made history with an astonishing $15.8 million in Monday ticket sales, clinching the record for the highest-grossing first Monday of November—unadjusted for inflation. This achievement eclipses the previous record set by *Frozen II*, which raked in $12.7 million on its opening Monday during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2019.

Notable Competitors

The list of remarkable performances for November Mondays is further highlighted by other heavyweights: *The Hunger Games: Catching Fire* made $12.3 million, while *Skyfall* earned $11.3 million—both of which were also released around Thanksgiving.

Wicked's Impressive Performance

Directed by Jon M. Chu, *Wicked* has continued its impressive journey at the box office, reaching a domestic total of $128.3 million following a groundbreaking opening of $112.5 million. This marks the highest opening for a film adapted from a Broadway musical and positions it among the biggest musical debuts of all time. Globally, the film is already on a remarkable trajectory, approaching $200 million in total earnings.

Comparative Box Office Success

In comparison, *Gladiator II*, directed by Ridley Scott, garnered $5.5 million on Monday, following a robust domestic opening of $55 million, which has contributed to a global total exceeding $226 million.

Thanksgiving Movie-Goer Trends

The timing of these phenomenal box office results coincides with many schools' holiday breaks, making the Thanksgiving week an exceptionally lucrative window for movie-going, including this past Monday.

Upcoming Blockbuster Lineup

This year’s Thanksgiving blockbuster lineup features Universal's *Wicked*, Paramount's *Gladiator II*, and Walt Disney Animation's *Moana 2*, which is set to debut on Wednesday after special Tuesday previews. This combination is poised to generate record ticket sales for the five-day holiday weekend (from Wednesday to Sunday) as it caters to a diverse audience across all demographics.

Strategic Releases

*Wicked* and *Gladiator II* strategically released last weekend to capitalize on the busy holiday week while creating some separation from *Moana 2*, which is anticipated to ignite super-sized box office success, with projections estimating a debut between $125 million and $135 million. This potential milestone would surpass even the beloved *Frozen* franchise’s openings, leading to what some are playfully dubbing the "Moanapocalypse."

Conclusion

With such monumental achievements, this Thanksgiving weekend is shaping up to be one for the record books, showcasing not only the power of musical adaptations but also the resurgence of the film industry post-pandemic. Don’t miss these epic cinematic experiences!