Wicked and Gladiator II: A Box Office Boom!

This weekend wasn't quite at the level of Barbie and Oppenheimer, but the combination of Universal's Wicked and Paramount's Gladiator II sure did make some waves! Wicked, based on the Broadway show, made history with an estimated $114 million opening, which is huge for a musical film. It's not just a hit in the U. S. , but globally too, with a total of $164. 2 million. Gladiator II also had a solid start, raking in an estimated $55. 5 million domestically. This ancient Rome action flick is a favorite among men and is already doing well overseas, with a global total of $221 million. Together, these movies brought in nearly $200 million in North America, which is a 70% increase from the same time last year. Last year's holiday entries, like Napoleon and Wish, didn't do as well.

People were talking on social media about whether these movies would attract both men and women to the theaters, like Barbie and Oppenheimer did. While they didn't come close to those openings, they did draw a diverse crowd. Get ready for more excitement during Thanksgiving! Disney's Moana 2 is coming out on Nov 27, and along with Wicked and Gladiator II, it might just make this the biggest Thanksgiving holiday for movie revenue ever. Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, has a stellar cast, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. It's based on Gregory Maguire's novel about the witches of Oz. Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott, is a sequel after 24 years, and it's a hit among men of all ages. Another movie, Amazon's Red One, slipped to No. 4 in its third weekend with $13. 3 million. It's made $52. 1 million domestically and $117. 1 million globally. Keep in mind, it had a big budget of $250 million.

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