Anticipation Builds for 'Gladiator II' and 'Wicked' Box Office Debuts

Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II' and the musical adaptation 'Wicked' aim to revitalize the fall box office with their upcoming releases.

Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II' revisits ancient Rome with a new story featuring Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, maintaining connections to the original film.
'Gladiator II' has already earned $87 million internationally and is projected to gross $55-65 million in its opening weekend in the U.S.
'Wicked,' featuring stars like Ariana Grande, is expected to have a strong box office performance, with projections suggesting it could earn over $100 million in its opening weekend.
Both films are considered potential contenders for the upcoming awards season, with 'Wicked' anticipated to receive multiple nominations.
The releases of 'Gladiator II' and 'Wicked' are seen as key to reviving a lackluster fall box office, drawing comparisons to last year's 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon.