'Wicked' soars with $114 million domestic opening, 'Gladiator' snares $55.5 million

This weekend, Universal’s “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II” made a big splash at the box office, with “Wicked” expected to earn $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally, marking the highest debut for a Broadway adaptation in cinema history. Despite initial tracking projections, “Wicked” exceeded expectations, while “Gladiator II” fell slightly short with a $55.5 million domestic opening. The success of these films, along with the upcoming release of Disney’s “Moana 2,” is expected to boost box office sales during the holiday season.

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