Gladiator II and the musical adaptation Wicked grossed a combined $270.2 million worldwide over the weekend, offering a much-needed boost to cinemas as the holiday season kicks off.
Wicked led the charts, earning $114 million domestically and $50.2 million internationally, setting a record for the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway musical adaptation. Gladiator II followed with $106 million globally, including $55.5 million from US and Canadian sales.
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Together, the films brought North America’s weekend box office to $201.9 million, marking the highest-grossing weekend since the July release of Deadpool & Wolverine. While the duo, dubbed “Glicked,” fell short of Barbie and Oppenheimer’s $245 million debut in 2023, they underscored Hollywood’s recovery post-pandemic.
The success comes as a reassurance to an industry grappling with streaming competition, cost-cutting, and layoffs, cementing cinemas’ place in entertainment.
