Movies

‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ jolt the box office with a combined $170 million

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'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' jolt the box office with a combined $170 million

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous cinematic marvels, I must say that this weekend at the box office has been nothing short of exhilarating! Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” has truly cast a spell on audiences, shattering records with its impressive $114 million domestic debut. It’s a testament to the timeless allure of Broadway musical adaptations and the undeniable star power of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

This weekend, “Wicked” from Universal Pictures easily took the top spot at the domestic box office, earning an impressive $114 million, as per studio reports.

The opening of “Wicked” film outperformed all previous Broadway musical adaptations, particularly “Into the Woods” (2014) with $31 million, and set a new global record by earning $164.2 million, surpassing the earnings of “Les Misérables” (2012) which stood at $103 million.

On the second spot over the weekend was “Gladiator II” from Paramount Pictures, earning $55.5 million in its debut across the U.S. and Canada – a record-breaking domestic launch for an R-rated movie premiering in November (unadjusted for inflation).

As a movie reviewer, I found myself slightly disappointed when Jon M. Chu’s big-screen adaptation of the first act of “Wicked” didn’t quite hit the bullseye with its box office performance. Despite analyst predictions in the range of $120-140 million, it fell closer to the studio’s more conservative estimate of $110 million. Still, it’s important to remember that first acts often set the stage for bigger and better things to come!

“Wicked” cost an estimated $150 million to make, not counting marketing.

In a surprising turn of events, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Academy Award-winning film from the early 2000s earned less than anticipated, falling below both experts’ and studio predictions that ranged between $60 million and $75 million. Interestingly, this movie had an initial budget for marketing of around $250 million before its release.

Despite a challenging fall season marked by underperforming films like “Joker: Folie à Deux” from Warner Bros. and “Red One” from Amazon MGM Studios, the strong showings of these two movies serve as a promising start to the holiday season for the struggling movie theater industry.

In a statement, Michael O’Leary, President of the National Association of Theatre Owners, extended his congratulations to our studio partners and the creative community. He praised them for achieving one of the most financially successful weekends ever at the box office during November, on behalf of all the individuals who manage movie theaters worldwide.

He remarked, “This will significantly boost ticket sales as we approach December and the start of the new year at the box office.

21 years after it initially captivated Broadway, “Wicked” features Ariana Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Notably, this new take on “The Wizard of Oz” brings Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, and Michelle Yeoh onto the main cast. The show is eagerly awaited by fans.

The wide release of the movie was powered by a highly active advertising strategy, which involved Universal collaborating with approximately 400 global brands such as Starbucks, Ulta Beauty, Bloomingdales, and Target, to make store shelves sport shades of Glinda pink and Elphaba green.

The movie ‘Wicked’ gained substantial praise due to the impressive portrayals of its main sorceresses. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned a 90% rating and an A grade from CinemaScore’s audience polls. The majority of viewers were women, who made up about 72% of the domestic opening weekend box office.

Universal and its head, Donna Langley who was recently promoted to chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios, has scored a major victory. This Comcast-owned studio has frequently taken risks in the musical movie genre, with hits like “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Misérables”, but also some flops such as “Cats” and “Dear Evan Hansen”.

Critic Katie Walsh from Tribune News Service praises ‘Wicked’ as an engaging adaption that stays true to the original while skillfully balancing playfulness and respect towards the legendary ‘Defying Gravity.’

The movie might have a hard time getting off the ground initially, but once it takes off, it becomes profoundly affecting. Its theme of liberty and rebellion strikes a chord particularly powerfully in today’s context.

“Wicked Part Two,” covering the second act of the stage production, is scheduled to bow next year.

This weekend, “Gladiator II” made its debut in local cinemas. Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, this film features a pair of warriors and emperors from ancient Rome locked in combat. The principal cast also includes Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen for this gory historical drama set in the past.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I eagerly anticipated the sequel to “Gladiator”. To my delight, it garnered a generally favorable response, with a 71% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a ‘B’ grade from audiences surveyed by CinemaScore.

According to Times columnist Glenn Whipp, “Gladiator II” is a delightfully simple follow-up to the muscular Ridley Scott masterpiece which won the Academy Award for Best Picture about 25 years ago.

In simple terms, the upcoming big-screen production from a well-known studio is “Moana 2” by Disney, set to hit cinemas nationwide a few days prior to Thanksgiving.

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2024-11-24 20:31

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