Gladiator II is set for release in the US on November 22, 2024, with box office projections ranging between $60 million to $80 million domestically. This is despite the film competing with another major release, Wicked, which is also poised to be a huge success worldwide. However, Ridley Scott's sequel is already getting positive reviews, meaning it might fare well once it opens alongside the musical.

Now, Variety has confirmed that Gladiator II scored big at the box office in the UK and Ireland, earning $11.5 million in its opening weekend after coming out on November 15. This success is compounded by a massive $87 million overseas haul from multiple countries around the world, a strong sign for how it might perform in the US. It's also a good sign for the movie making back the money it's spent, having a gross budget between $250-310 million.

What Gladiator 2's Overseas Success Means For The Film's US Performance

It Might Be Able To Replicate Its Performance Domestically

Gladiator II's positive reviews have emphasized just how exciting the sequel is, praising the performances of its cast despite occasionally relying too much on the original movie for nostalgia. However, its delivery on action-packed set pieces and Roman politics likely contributed to its overseas success, something that bodes well for its US release. This is aided by the inclusion of several recognizable stars in the main cast, like Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, along with returnees like Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.

However, the film will also need to compete with the Wicked adaptation, which comes out worldwide on November 22 as well. The Wizard of Oz prequel is expected to earn around $67-75 million domestically on its opening weekend, with some projections putting it over $100 million, beating Gladiator II at the box office. Given the familiarity of both franchises, either of them would have a strong claim to becoming Number 1. Even if Scott's sequel doesn't, though, its overseas performance still indicates strong numbers when it does arrive in the US.

Our Take On Gladiator 2's Overseas Box Office Success

The Film Will Have A Strong Initial Performance

Based on its UK performance and success in other territories, Gladiator 2 is likely going to perform very well at the US box office when it comes out later this week. Although it's unclear how it will stack up against Wicked, the familiarity of the franchise and promised levels of action could be enough to give it an edge over the musical. Either way, its initial numbers highlight the possibility of making its huge budget back, though time will tell how much longevity the film will have.

Gladiator II and Wicked will also be competing with Moana 2 in their second week when the animated film opens on Thanksgiving weekend.

Source: Variety