Jon M. Chu's lavish big-budget musical "Wicked," starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally for Universal Pictures. This record for a Broadway musical adaptation signifies a turning point for box office trends this year.
Ridley Scott's "Gladiator II," despite opening slightly below expectations with $55.5 million domestically, performed well internationally, adding $50.5 million overseas, showcasing the film's global appeal despite a hefty production budget.
The collision of 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' mirrored last year's 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon, though this year's combination, nicknamed 'Glicked', lacked the cultural impact, reflecting less interest in double features.
Jim Orr, Universal's distribution chief, remarked that the weekend was primarily a victory for 'Wicked', illustrating how successful films can capitalize on opportune release timings to maximize box office impact.
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