Box Office: ‘Wicked’ Earns Huge $19M From Week-Long Previews, ‘Gladiator II’ Soars to $6.5M on Thursday Alone

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As a seasoned gamer of both the silver screen and the virtual realm, I can confidently say that the cinematic landscape is about to be electrified! The upcoming duo of Universal’s ‘Wicked’ and Paramount’s ‘Gladiator II’ promises an unparalleled experience for moviegoers across the globe.

Without a doubt, let’s refer to it as something unique – perhaps “Glicked,” “Wickiator,” or “Barbienheimer 2.0.” What truly counts is the remarkable resurgence of domestic box office earnings, fueled by Universal’s musical “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II.

The musical Wicked made a massive $19.2 million in ticket sales during its previews and special advanced screenings, with Thursday alone bringing in $11 million from 3,300 cinemas. This amount also includes $2.5 million earned on Monday at 750 theaters through Amazon Prime screenings and an additional $5.7 million from 2,000 theaters during Wednesday’s advance screenings.

In the cinematic rendition of the well-known Broadway musical by director Jon M. Chu, an illustrious ensemble headed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is featured. This film is projected to secure one of the highest debuts for any musical, and especially a live-action musical (estimates range from $85 million to $150 million). This is advantageous for the genre, which has had its ups and downs. Moreover, it’s beneficial for Universal, who are banking on two movies with “Wicked II” set to release in theaters a year later.

The blockbuster film, initially scheduled for release on November 27, the day prior to Thanksgiving, has been brought forward to generate buzz during Thanksgiving week. The revised date also provides some space from Disney’s Moana 2, which is set to debut on the 27th. Similarly, Moana 2 is anticipated to be a colossal hit and is projected to headline the largest five-day holiday weekend ever (from Wednesday through Sunday).

The internet is buzzing with predictions that both “Gladiator II” and “Wicked” could recreate the Barbenheimer effect this weekend, making them a popular choice for cinemas among both men and women. Currently, “Wicked” has an impressive 89% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while “Gladiator” has 72%.

Wicked, initially inspired by Gregory Maguire’s popular novel, delves into the lesser-known tales of Oz’s witches. Cynthia Erivo portrays Elphaba, while Ariana Grande assumes the role of Glinda. Winnie Holzman, who penned the stage play’s script, wrote the screenplay for Chu’s film in collaboration with Dana Fox. Stephen Schwartz, an Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist, adapted the musical for the big screen.

In the direction of Ridley Scott, the highly anticipated sequel to the original “Gladiator,” which was released 24 years ago, is set to premiere with an estimated opening weekend gross of around $65 million. The upcoming film boasts a star-studded cast that includes Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Fred Hechinger, among others.

In the movie, I find myself embodying the character of an adult Lucius Verus II, a relative of Emperor Commodus, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the original film. Having been driven into slavery, I am compelled to return to Rome where I seek vengeance and power not as a ruler, but as a gladiator. My ultimate goal is to restore the grandeur of Rome to its people.

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2024-11-22 18:55