'Wicked' dominates box office with record $120M opening, 'Gladiator II' follows with $61M

In an explosive weekend for the box office, Wicked Part One is on track to break records, with a projected $120 million opening. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the musical adaptation has already surpassed industry expectations, drawing massive audiences, especially women, to theaters.

With $48.5 million in ticket sales on Friday alone, the Broadway-to-film hit has secured the third-biggest opening of 2024, following Beetlejuice and The Lion King (2019). Early box office numbers show strong interest, with 71% of viewers being women, signaling the power of female-driven films in the market. Universal’s marketing strategy has proven successful, giving Wicked an edge in its opening performance.

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, has also made an impressive debut, grossing $61 million over the weekend. The action-packed sequel is proving to be a major success for Paramount Pictures, drawing in a predominantly male audience, with 61% of viewers being men. Gladiator II already passed $100 million globally, continuing the momentum of its international success.

Both films are dominating the 2024 box office, with Wicked possibly setting new records for a Broadway musical adaptation. As more audiences flock to theaters this weekend, it is clear that both Wicked and Gladiator II are poised to continue their strong performances.