Is “Glicked” a worthy successor to “Barbenheimer”?

Although the enthusiasm for Gladiator 2 and Wicked is less intense than that for Barbie and Oppenheimer, these two films nevertheless seem to be generating a certain amount of excitement.

It’s safe to say that Glicked is the closest we’ve come to a film duo since Barbenheimer’s mega-success in the summer of 2023.

Last weekend marked the theatrical premieres of two of the most eagerly awaited films of 2024, Gladiator 2 and Wicked, and the excitement and buzz were palpable in cinemas around the world.

It’s unlikely that the “Glicked” phenomenon will reach the same intensity as Barbie and Oppenheimer, which benefited from an exceptional marketing campaign in 2023.

In its first weekend, Wicked opened to $114 million at the box office, while Gladiator II took in over $55 million.

For Wicked: Part I, a reinterpretation of the famous The Wizard of Oz, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz.

After their encounter with the Wizard of Oz, however, their friendship takes a turn.

The plot of Gladiator 2, the sequel to the acclaimed 2000 film starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, presents a marked contrast.

It follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), whose home has been conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome.

Forced to enter the Colosseum, he must draw on his past to regain the strength needed to restore Rome’s glory. The film also stars Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington.

We’re now awaiting the results of the second weekend to see if we’re in for a new phenomenon… or not! Will you be going to see these two films in the double bill?