The highly anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator II’ has stormed onto the international box office scene, raking in an impressive $87 million across 63 markets. This marks a monumental start for the sequel, which has been a quarter-century in the making and follows the iconic 2000 film ‘Gladiator,’ winner of the Oscar for Best Picture.

This remarkable opening not only sets the record for the largest international R-rated debut for Paramount Pictures but also cements director Ridley Scott’s reputation, marking it as his best overseas launch to date. His filmography includes hits like ‘The Martian’ which grossed $630 million globally, and the original ‘Gladiator’ that captivated audiences with $465 million.

In IMAX, ‘Gladiator II’ has also made waves, garnering an impressive $7 million from 453 screens, ranking among the top three international debuts for the year.

The sequel particularly shined in the United Kingdom, pulling in $11.4 million from 722 locations. France followed closely with $10.3 million from 729 screens, while Spain contributed $5.6 million from 411 locations. Australia and Mexico also added to the film’s impressive haul, earning $5 million and $4.7 million respectively.

This epic continuation, featuring stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, will be hitting theaters in North America and Canada on November 22, where it will face off against Universal’s extravagant musical adaptation of ‘Wicked.’

With an estimated production budget exceeding $250 million, the film must achieve strong performance at the global box office to be considered a financial success. Although reviews have been mixed, sporting a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the story promises an exciting narrative set twenty years after the original. In ‘Gladiator II,’ Lucius (Mescal), the nephew of the late emperor Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix), aims to revive the glory of Rome in the Colosseum.

Critics have described the film as 'serviceable but far from great,' as noted by Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, highlighting the immense expectations the sequel bears due to the legacy of its Oscar-winning predecessor.

As it stands, ‘Gladiator II’ has outperformed Dwayne Johnson’s Christmas-themed adventure ‘Red One,’ which earned $14.7 million in its second weekend. ‘Red One,’ backed by Amazon MGM in North America and Warner Bros. globally, has amassed $34 million domestically and $84.1 million worldwide so far, facing its own challenges given its hefty production and promotional costs of $350 million.

Moreover, this weekend saw achievements from other titles; Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Wild Robot’ crossed the $300 million mark globally, while Sony’s ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ surpassed $400 million in worldwide revenues. With so much competition in the box office, audiences are in for a cinematic treat this season!

Prepare to witness the resurgence of epic storytelling with ‘Gladiator II’—a film striving to etch its name alongside its legendary predecessor!