(Reuters) – “Wicked,” the first of two films based on a beloved Broadway musical, has hit theaters with estimated ticket sales of $114 million in the United States and Canada, distributor Universal Pictures said on Sunday.
“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the story of how a misunderstood green-skinned magic student becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
Contender “Gladiator II,” the sequel to a film that won the best picture Oscar two decades ago, grossed $55.5 million in domestic theaters, said Paramount Pictures, which is part of Paramount Global.
Based on a Broadway prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” the film “Wicked” grossed $114 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, plus $50.2 million in international markets, for a global total estimated $164.2 million.
Universal said “Wicked” had the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical, ahead of the worldwide debut of “Les Misérables.”
“Gladiator II” stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington in a story set in ancient Rome, 16 years after the original film.
The sword-and-sandal epic earned $50.5 million in worldwide sales, bringing the weekend box office total to $106 million. Its total box office take reached $221 million, reflecting the film's release last week in markets outside the US.
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