Was Glicked a Success?
"Glicked," referring to the simultaneous release of Wicked: Part One and Gladiator II during Thanksgiving weekend 2024, represents a significant moment for the box office in recent years. However it didn’t quite replicate the cultural phenomenon of "Barbenheimer." Both films were individually successful, appealing to their respective audiences, but the dual-release event didn’t quite the capture widespread frenzy of its predecessor.
Wicked: Part One led the weekend, earning $114 million domestically, marking the fourth-largest opening for a musical ever and the highest for one that isn't a Disney adaptation. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews, evidenced by an "A" CinemaScore, and became a must-watch for fans of Broadway musicals.
Gladiator II, on the other hand, opened to $55.5 million domestically, bringing its global total to $221 million thanks to a prior international release. Despite slightly mixed reviews, it still drew substantial interest. Perhaps helped by its star powered cast.
While both movies found success, they didn’t unite audiences into a shared phenomenon the way Barbie and Oppenheimer did in 2023. The internet gave "Glicked" some traction as a term, but it lacked the viral, meme-worthy energy that fueled Barbenheimer. Each film's appeal was more segmented.
The success of the films underscores the continued viability of counter-programming, where major releases target distinct audiences rather than competing directly. Tiktok has a huge part to play. Both films drew crowds and generated excitement, showcasing the value of leveraging established intellectual properties to appeal to nostalgia and genre-specific tastes.
In conclusion, while Glicked wasn’t a runaway cultural phenomenon, it was a financial success and a strong demonstration of diverse audience engagement, solidifying Wicked and Gladiator II as significant contributors to the 2024 box office. With Wicked 2 on the way, will there be a Gladiator 3? Probably. Does the world need it? We’re undecided.
