HOLLYWOOD - Moviegoers are soaring from Oz to the Colosseum as millions around the world flock to see “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” in theaters.

In North America alone, “Wicked” dominated the box office on opening weekend, making an estimated $114 million. “Gladiator II,” the sequel to the 2000 historical epic, also pulled in an estimated $55.5, NBC news reported.

The opening of both highly anticipated films prompted widespread comparisons to last summer’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” created an unprecedented box office event as well as a cultural moment unlike any other.

With “Moana 2” hitting theaters next week, plus another batch of releases set to roll out in December, the coming holiday stretch could give movie theaters a massive boost as they close out the year.

Story Date: November 29, 2024