'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' Set to Ignite Fall Box Office with Blockbuster Debuts
Universal's 'Wicked' is set for a massive $100 million debut at the North American box office, potentially reaching $130 million, marking a record for Broadway adaptations. Meanwhile, Paramount's 'Gladiator II' is expected to earn $65 million domestically, following a strong $87 million international opening. Both films are poised to dominate the Thanksgiving box office, with 'Wicked' aiming to break the trend of underperforming stage musical adaptations and 'Gladiator II' needing global success to justify its high production and marketing costs.