Mon Nov 25 15:40:00 UTC 2024: ## “Wicked” Soars Past “Gladiator II” in Record-Breaking Box Office Debut

**Los Angeles, CA** – The film adaptation of the Broadway hit *Wicked* has achieved a phenomenal box office opening, shattering several records and outperforming its major competitor, *Gladiator II*. The film raked in a staggering $164 million globally during its debut weekend, marking the biggest opening weekend ever for a movie based on a Broadway musical.

This impressive figure surpasses the previous record holders, *Les Misérables* and *Into the Woods*, and claims the top spot for a non-sequel film in 2024. Domestically, *Wicked* secured the third-largest opening weekend of the year, trailing only *Deadpool & Wolverine* and *Inside Out 2*. In contrast, *Gladiator II*, which shared the same release date, earned $106 million.

Industry experts attribute *Wicked*’s success to several factors: the established fanbase of the stage musical, the star power of Ariana Grande (and other cast members), the timeless appeal of the Oz story, and the film’s overall high production quality. Rob Mitchell of Gower Street Analytics suggests that the film’s impressive spectacle is perfectly suited to the big screen experience and anticipates its potential to surpass the box office total of *Mamma Mia!* ($611 million). While acknowledging the potential for success, he also noted that matching the astronomical box office numbers of *The Lion King* ($1.6 billion) might be a more challenging feat.

The film’s strong performance comes as a welcome boost to the movie industry, which has faced challenges this year. Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore highlights that the success of both *Wicked* and *Gladiator II* promises a robust December for cinemas.

However, *Wicked* faces new competition this week with the release of *Moana 2*, a film with a proven track record and significant brand recognition. Disney films have dominated Thanksgiving box office weekends in recent years, adding another layer of uncertainty to *Wicked*’s future performance. Whether it will ultimately claim a spot among the top 12 highest-grossing films of 2024 remains to be seen.

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