Wicked at the US box office: record opening for a fantasy film adapted from the phenomenon

At the US box office from November 22 to 24, 2024

1 – Wicked: $114,000,000 (news)

2 – Gladiator II: $55,500,000 (news)

3 – Red One: $13,285,603 (cumulative: $52,910,550)

4 – Bonhoeffer: $5,120,013 (news)

5 – Venom – The Last Dance: $4,000,000 (cumulative: $133,825,476)

6 – Best Christmas Pageant: $3,500,000 (Cumulative: $25,515,822)

7 – The Heretic: $2,233,198 (cumulative: $24,766,851)

8 – wild robot: $2,000,000 (cumulative: $140,727,420)

9 – Smile 2: $1,110,000 (cumulative: $67,759,010)

10 – Real Pain: $1,109,000 (Cumulative: $4,959,588)

to remember

This weekend in the United States, witches’ dresses were matched with gladiator skirts. A year and a half after the Barbenheimer phenomenon, American theaters were allowed It was gonecompression Gladiator II and evilMajor releases (diametrically opposite on paper) for Friday 22nd November.

And as advance sales strongly suggested, the duel was largely in Wicked’s favor, finishing the weekend with $114 million, according to estimates released this Sunday, Nov. 24.

The production budget of two parts of the diptych inspired by the musical of the same name increased to 350 million GEL. Which indicates great success, befitting the phenomenon from which it draws its inspiration.

A prequel to The Wizard of Oz directed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked has the third-best opening of 2024 behind Vice Versa 2 (151 million) and Deadpool & Wolverine (211 million). And, far and away, the record for a Broadway adaptation in a movie, ahead of Into the Woods (31.1 million) and Mamma Mia! (27.8 million).

Despite the inevitable tidal wave period for Moana 2, good press and public response will allow it to continue to fill in the coming days and through the Thanksgiving weekend.

Trailing behind Wicked , Gladiator II isn’t standing out with its $55.5 million. It’s Ridley Scott’s best opening since Hannibal (58 million) in 2001. And a higher start than the first opus (34.8 million), which clearly didn’t have the aura it has today.

Even if its profitability will depend on its budget (we are talking about a production that would have cost about 220 million), the sequel has already equaled Napoleon worldwide and brought in half the total of its predecessor, whose run ended with more. $465 million in revenue.

It may be difficult for Ridley Scott to top his biggest hit yet, Mars alone (630 million), but Gladiator II’s start is encouraging enough to see it do quite well at the box office for its author.

And, alongside Wicked, it’s helping give the US box office a much-needed boost today as the holidays loom at the end of the year.

Leader last week, action comedy red one It logically pays for the arrival of the Wicked – Gladiator II duo, but remains on the podium, even if its sharp drop in earnings (-58.6%) does not help to correct the situation after its disappointing start.

But today it is enough to stay ahead of the new Bonhoefferas well Poison 3 (which is close to the score of its predecessor in the world) or A wild robotDean of the Top 10, who signs off for the ninth week of his stay.

Finally, note that the horror film Smile 2 Struggling to better the first installment of the Parker Finn saga: To date, the sequel has earned $67.8 million domestically and 135.9 worldwide, with a 105.9 and 217.4, respectively.

Figures: Box-Office Mojo