Blockbuster films Wicked and Gladiator II hit US theaters simultaneously on Nov. 22, 2024.
Some believe that the release of both films on the same day has created a cultural phenomenon that echoes that of “Barbenheimer”, the dual release of the Barbie and Oppenheimer films on July 21, 2023. Similarly, Wicked and Gladiator II vary greatly in content; an epic musical and a gory action, respectively, mirroring the stark differences present in Barbie and Oppenheimer that ultimately pushed many viewers to be interested in consuming both films.
Film Club Vice President Hawa Mansaray offers her personal opinion on the differences between the two films, and how it impacted their viewing upon being released at the same time stating, “I enjoyed the contrast in these films because I feel it gives viewers more variety, and allows them to expand their tastes beyond their comfort zones.”
Additionally, Variety’s “Actors on Actors” segment, in which various actors interview one another as a play on the common use of designated reporters, recently featured Wicked star Ariana Grande and Gladiator II lead Paul Mescal interviewing each other on Dec. 10 to not only pump up the energy surrounding the films’ releases but also to provide insight into how their simultaneous release has affected all involved with the movies.
Mescal himself describes Wicked and Gladiator II as being “in terms of a double feature – thematically similar, but then also totally different meals”, in the way that both films address the concept of good versus evil at their heart. The two later exclaim that they are “Glicked!” during their conversation, referring to the portmanteau that has been coined for Wicked and Gladiator III, bringing further acknowledgment to the phenomenon, according to Variety News.
The casts of each movie are stacked to the brim with notable actors and celebrities, all of which have been continuously drawing more and more viewers into the theaters. Wicked features pop star and actress Grande and Broadway legend Cynthia Erivo as its two leads, playing the characters of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. Gladiator II also features big-ticket names such as Mescal in the role of Lucius, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and Pedro Pascal as General Acacius.
“This is the first time Ariana Grande has been in a film production of this caliber, so I think people are bound to be curious about what she can achieve. Cynthia Erivo is well-known and respected in the musical theatre world, and [is] a spectacular singer, so I’m sure many people were anticipating her renditions of the iconic songs from the musical,” says Mansaray about Wicked, “Gladiator II also has a stacked cast…so I think many people were excited to see them in the sequel of a widely beloved film.”
Moviegoers everywhere have been excited, indeed: Wicked has already made an estimated $114 million in North America, with Gladiator II at an estimated $55.5 million in North America, the opening weekend for both films considered one of the biggest for the box office in the entire year according to NBC News and Variety. Wicked took the no. 1 spot at both the global and domestic box offices, and additionally had the biggest worldwide opening for a film based on a Broadway show in history, surpassing 2012’s Les Miserables.
Their star power and action have only been amplified further by numerous social media trends, specific aspects of their production, and their concurrent releases. Recently, social media platforms everywhere have been full of look-alike contests, such as the notable one for Timothee Chalamet in which the actor himself made an appearance per the New York Times. The Wicked character Boq, who was played by Ethan Slater, was the subject of a lookalike contest held by a TikTok creator. Instances such as this one, as well as Mescal’s appearance on the notable TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL), have continued to garner more attention for both films.
Both Wicked and Gladiator II are continuing to flourish in theaters and culture. Currently, the former sits at a 4.1 average rating out of 5 stars, with the latter at 3.1 stars on Google Ratings; however, if the notable publicity of each only continues to rise, there’s no telling how much more support they will receive, and how long they will continue to stay in the public eye.
