The 2024 pre-Thanksgiving box office reached record heights, with Wicked and Gladiator II contributing significantly to a $205 million domestic haul over the weekend. While both films slightly underperformed initial projections, they still dominated ticket sales, accounting for approximately 80% of all purchases.
Wicked earned $114 million domestically and $164 million internationally, marking the biggest global opening of 2024 for a non-sequel and breaking records as the highest-grossing debut for a film based on a Broadway show. Meanwhile, Gladiator II collected $55.5 million in domestic revenue and $220 million internationally, benefiting from its earlier overseas release.
Despite the impressive earnings, both films face substantial costs, including production budgets of $150 million (Wicked) and $250 million (Gladiator II), along with marketing expenses of $154 million and $118 million, respectively.
Looking ahead, Disney's Moana 2 is set to further energize the holiday box office. With projections ranging from $125 million to $175 million for its 5-day opening, this animated sequel is expected to make waves globally.
The resurgence of the box office is thrilling, especially with films like Wicked setting benchmarks for Broadway adaptations. However, the pressure of high production and marketing budgets raises questions about long-term profitability. While Gladiator II continues the legacy of a beloved franchise, its underwhelming domestic debut compared to expectations could signal challenges for epic historical dramas. Moana 2, with its family-friendly appeal, is poised to fill theaters during the holiday season, making it a strong contender for the year's top grosser.
What do you think about the recent surge in box office performance? Could this signify a sustained revival for theaters, or will streaming continue to dominate?
