This weekend, two high-profile films spurred renewed confidence for the film business, grossing $270.2 million worldwide and posting the best pre-Thanksgiving box office performance since 2013.
Universal’s musical adaptation, “Wicked,” topped the way with an amazing $114 million domestic debut and $50.2 million overseas sales. The film broke records for Broadway adaptations, outperforming “Les Miserables” substantially. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, garnered a largely female audience, with 72% of all spectators being women.
“The film’s success demonstrates the power of well-executed musical adaptations,” industry analyst Paul Dergarabedian stated. The critical reception and audience A CinemaScore indicate a strong likelihood of ongoing success over the holiday season.
Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” also had a huge impact, grossing $55.5 million domestically and $50.5 million overseas. The Roman epic, which stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal, has already grossed $221 million worldwide. The film drew a predominantly masculine audience, with 61% of spectators being men.
These releases come at a critical time for the film industry, which has experienced a 10.6% drop in domestic ticket sales this year. The weekend’s domestic box office amounted to $205 million, mirroring 2019 levels when “Frozen 2” was the top draw.
While the weekend’s performance fell short of last year’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon’s combined opening of $235.5 million, it highlighted the enduring popularity of varied theatrical experiences. The success demonstrates the industry’s capacity to attract people across genres and ethnicities.
Analysts are bullish about “Moana 2″‘s approaching Thanksgiving release, predicting potentially record-breaking ticket sales that might exceed the $2.5 billion set in 2017.
Universal has already given the green light for a second “Wicked” film, with each installment costing around $150 million. This decision indicates confidence in the franchise’s long-term success.
