Ariana Grande graced the premiere of the film 'Wicked' in London, Britain, on November 18, 2024, as captured by Reuters.

The musical adaptation 'Wicked' and the action-packed 'Gladiator II' collectively raked in $270.2 million (Dh992 million) in global ticket sales over the weekend, providing a much-needed boost to cinemas as they head into what could be a record-breaking holiday season. Both films are now showing in UAE cinemas. The strong box office performance offered some relief to Hollywood, which has faced cost-cutting measures and layoffs amid predictions of the decline of cinema due to the rise of streaming services.

"Moviegoers and box-office analysts have been eagerly anticipating this weekend, and no one is let down," remarked Chris Aronson, president of distribution for Paramount Pictures. 'Wicked,' the first of two Universal Pictures films inspired by a Broadway prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz,' dominated both the domestic and global box office. It garnered $114 million in the US and Canada, along with $50.2 million internationally, totaling $164.2 million globally. This marks the highest opening weekend for a Broadway musical-based film, surpassing Universal's 2012 release 'Les Miserables,' according to the studio.

'Gladiator II' amassed $106 million worldwide, including $55.5 million from domestic sales. The Paramount Pictures sequel to the Oscar-winning film from two decades ago had a cumulative box office of $221 million. The two films, affectionately dubbed "Glicked" by fans, contributed $169.5 million to domestic theatres, pushing the weekend box office to $201.9 million. This is the highest-grossing weekend in North America since the July release of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' according to Comscore.

While "Glicked" didn't match the $245 million frenzy of the 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' opening in July 2023, it still provided a significant lift to movie theatres after anticipated fall releases like 'Joker: Folie a Deux' and 'Venom: The Last Dance' underperformed. The excitement is a positive sign for theatre chains such as AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, especially with Walt Disney's animated 'Moana 2' set for release this week.

"This is a significant catalyst for a robust box office leading into December and the New Year," stated Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. Movie ticket sales in the US and Canada have remained below pre-pandemic levels, with cinemas facing competition from streaming and disruptions from last year's Hollywood strikes. Sunday's figures brought year-to-date domestic ticket sales to $7.3 billion, a 10.6 percent decline from the same period in 2023, according to Comscore.

Studios and theatre owners are optimistic that 'Moana 2' will drive next weekend's sales to the highest Thanksgiving-period revenue in history. Box-office analysts predict that ticket sales from Thanksgiving to the end of the year could set a new record. The holiday season record of $2.5 billion was set in 2017, led by 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi.'

"This is the best possible news for movie theatres, with this lineup of films, starting with 'Glicked' and 'Moana 2,'" said Paul Dergarabedian, media analyst for Comscore. 'Wicked' stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the tale of a misunderstood, green-skinned magic student who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. "It's wrapped in a fairy tale, but the point is to delve into real truths," director Jon M. Chu explained at the film's London premiere.

Universal, a Comcast subsidiary, invested approximately $160 million in the first 'Wicked' film, excluding tens of millions more for marketing, ranging from a Super Bowl ad to hundreds of 'Wicked' products. The marketing campaign, reminiscent of the 'Barbie' frenzy, included pink and green drinks at Starbucks, a fashion line at Target, and a Betty Crocker cupcake mix. "This campaign was omnipresent. It was unavoidable," said Jim Orr, Universal Pictures' president of domestic theatrical distribution. "And on top of that, we had the hardest-working cast. From a publicity and marketing perspective, Cynthia and Ariana were everywhere."

The second 'Wicked' film is slated for release in November 2025. 'Gladiator II' features Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington in a story of political intrigue set 16 years after the original film. Other films slated for release before the end of the year include Walt Disney's 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' Paramount's 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3,' and Searchlight Pictures' 'A Complete Unknown,' starring Timothee Chalamet as musician Bob Dylan.

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