Box Office: ‘Wicked’ opens to record-setting $114 Million, ‘Gladiator II’ starts strong with $55.5 Million

Universal's "Wicked" debuted as North America’s No. 1 film, earning $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally, making it the highest-grossing opening for a Broadway musical adaptation.

Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the film adapts the first act of the popular stage musical and received critical praise, a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, and an “A” CinemaScore.

Paramount’s "Gladiator II" followed with $55.5 million domestically and $221 million globally but faced mixed reactions compared to its Oscar-winning predecessor.

The box office weekend was one of 2024’s biggest, with $210 million in revenue.

Universal anticipates strong holiday returns for "Wicked," while other releases, including “Bonhoeffer” and “Red One,” had limited impact.