Wicked Dominates Box Office with $117M Opening, Gladiator II Also Impresses
- The film is expected to earn $117 million over its opening weekend in North America, making it one of the top three openings of 2024.
- The film made $46.7 million on its opening day from 3,888 theaters.
- Universal invested $150 million in "Wicked." Its marketing campaign has been extensive, and audience response is positive.
Wicked Opens Strong at Box Office
“Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, is performing well at the box office. The film is expected to earn $117 million over its opening weekend in North America, making it one of the top three openings of 2024. It stands behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($151 million).
The film made $46.7 million on its opening day from 3,888 theaters. This figure includes $7.9 million from early screenings earlier in the week. Without this early boost, its opening day would fall slightly behind that of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Universal invested $150 million in “Wicked.” Its marketing campaign has been extensive, and audience response is positive. “Wicked” received an A grade from Cinema Score, indicating strong approval from moviegoers. Families and musical fans may have competition when “Moana 2” is released next week, but “Wicked” is well-positioned for continued success. A sequel, also budgeted at $150 million, is set for release next year.
Gladiator II Sees Strong Opening
Paramount’s “Gladiator II” opened in second place with a projected $60 million. The film grossed $22 million from 3,573 venues over its opening weekend. This marks a record opening for director Ridley Scott, surpassing his previous film “Hannibal,” which opened to $58 million. It may also achieve the biggest November opening for an R-rated movie.
“Gladiator II” has a $250 million production budget and is relying on strong overseas ticket sales, having already earned $131 million through international markets.
The film has received a B grade from Cinema Score, showing mixed audience reactions. The original “Gladiator” was a major hit in 2000, but this sequel may not reach those heights.
Bonhoeffer Contends for Fourth Place
Opening this weekend, Angel Studios released “Bonhoeffer. Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” The film earned about $2.2 million from 1,900 theaters and is projected to reach $4.4 million for the weekend. This movie explores the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted the rise of the Third Reich.
Other Box Office Performances
“Red One,” featuring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, earned $3.3 million on Friday and is expected to make $13 million over the weekend, bringing its total to over $52 million.
“Venom: The Last Dance” rounded out the top five, looking to earn $4 million in its fifth week. While it has surpassed $130 million domestically, it has not matched the total of its predecessor.
Overall, it has been a busy box office weekend with strong performances from both “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.”