“Wicked” Takes the Lead in North American Box Office
The film “Wicked,” an adaptation of the famous Broadway musical, debuted at the top spot in the North American box office over the recent weekend, surpassing another highly anticipated movie, “Gladiator II,” as reported by AFP and cited by Agerpres.
Success of “Wicked” at the Box Office
The musical “Wicked,” directed by Jon Chu and starring actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches Elphaba and Galinda, achieved the third-highest opening weekend box office performance of 2024, grossing $114 million in the United States and Canada. This success puts it behind only “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2” in terms of opening weekend earnings.
The highly anticipated weekend, leading up to Thanksgiving in the United States, saw the simultaneous release of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.” The latter marks director Ridley Scott’s return to the ancient Roman universe 24 years after the release of the original film, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2000.
Comparison Between “Wicked” and “Gladiator II”
While “Gladiator II” starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington garnered $55.5 million over the weekend, it fell short in comparison to the magical tale inspired by “The Wizard of Oz.” The film’s unusual international premiere a week prior and mixed reviews may have contributed to its lower box office performance.
Additionally, the R rating in the US for “Gladiator II” restricts viewers under 17 to watch the film with an adult, impacting its potential earnings.
Other Notable Films in the Box Office
1. “Red One”
The film “Red One,” produced by MGM and featuring Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and Dwayne The Rock Johnson, earned $13.3 million, securing the third spot in the box office. Although the movie revolves around the kidnapping of Santa Claus, it diverges from traditional Christmas themes with a PG-13 rating in the US.
2. “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.”
A biographical film depicting the true story of pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer debuted in fourth place with earnings of $5.1 million.
3. “Venom: The Last Dance”
Sony’s “Venom: The Last Dance” dropped to fifth place with $4 million in earnings. The film, starring Tom Hardy, continues the story of a journalist who transforms into a terrifying alien creature.
For more updates on the world of movies and TV shows, as well as other interesting news, stay tuned to the Nerd Alert segment this weekend.