WickedSoars PastGladiator IIat the Box Office — Earning Best Opening for a Broadway Film Adaptation

Mar. 15, 2025

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in ‘Wicked’; Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’.Photo:Universal Studios; Paramount Pictures

Universal Studios; Paramount Pictures

“Barbenheimer” move over — it’s “Glicked” season.

WickedandGladiator IIboth released over the weekend, garnering whopping numbers at the box office in North America.

In first place,Wicked(part one of a two-part movie adaptation) earned $114 million from 3,888 theaters over the weekend, according toVarietyandThe Hollywood Reporter.

Gladiator II,meanwhile,made $55.5 million from 3,573 cinemas, the outlets said.

Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’; Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’.Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

WickedseesAriana GrandeandCynthia Erivostep into the iconic roles of Glinda and Elphaba in the Broadway adaptation that tells the origin story of Oz’s witches.

Gladiator II, for its part,put Oscar-nominated actorPaul Mescalinto the spotlight as Lucius, the son of the original film’s Maximus (Russell Crowe).

Both films were highly anticipated, inspiring fans to recreate the magic movie moment of “Barbenheimer” from last summer, which saw the simultaneous release ofBarbieandOppenheimer.

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Mescal, 28, recently spoke about wanting to reignite that spark, encouraging viewers to watch bothWickedandGladiator IIover the weekend.

“I think they complement each otherreally well because they’re so different,” he toldVarietyat the film’s premiere on Nov. 18. “And if you love cinema, get out there and support it."

WickedandGladiator IIare in theaters now.

source: people.com