Whether you spent the weekend soaring through the skies or going up against sharks in the Colosseum, it’s likely you were tuned into either *[Wicked](https://mashable.com/article/wicked-part-1-review)* or *[Gladiator II](https://mashable.com/article/gladiator-ii-review)*. Known as the “Glicked” duo, these two hits ruled the box office during their opening weekend.
Jon M. Chu’s eagerly awaited adaptation of the Broadway show *Wicked*, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, made a stunning entrance in the U.S., grossing $114 million domestically and $164 million worldwide, per [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2024W47/?ref_=bo_hm_rw). This achievement sets a new record for the opening of a Broadway musical adaptation, outpacing *Into the Woods*, which grossed $31 million domestically during its launch a decade ago.
On the other hand, Ridley Scott’s monumental sequel *Gladiator II* garnered $55.5 million at the U.S. box office. However, its global earnings currently exceed those of *Wicked*, reaching a total of $221 million internationally. It’s important to note that *Gladiator II* had an early international release, debuting in Australia on Oct. 30 and in the UK on Nov. 15.
Together, the “Glicked” duo accumulated an impressive $170 million in the U.S. over the weekend. Although this is a noteworthy performance, the record for the largest domestic opening weekend of the year remains with *[Deadpool & Wolverine](https://mashable.com/article/deadpool-and-wolverine-review)*, which opened with $211 million. *[Inside Out 2](https://mashable.com/article/inside-out-2-review)* follows closely with $155 million, but *Wicked* just edged out *[Beetlejuice Beetlejuice](https://mashable.com/article/beetlejuice-beetlejuice-review)*, which debuted at $111 million.
The rivalry between *Wicked* and *Gladiator II* will be intriguing to observe as their box office journeys unfold. A pivotal aspect for *Wicked* may be the number of fans who return for additional showings — particularly if they could not hear the film over the [audience singalongs](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/movies/wicked-movie-singalong-debate.html) during their initial viewing.
For the time being, both films are enjoying success, and their combined achievements demonstrate that there is space for both theatrical enchantment and epic combat on the big screen.