The three major Hollywood studio movies opening over the next week are expected to rake in more revenue than during any Thanksgiving period in history. The trio offers a bright spot in an industry that has been slow to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and then was further hampered by the 2023 labor strikes.
Between Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” starring Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, “Wicked,” with Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Erivo (“Glicked” anyone?), and “Moana 2,” featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, there will be something on the big screen for families, teenage boys and musical fans of all ages.
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Two of the biggest studios in Hollywood are behind the films: Disney (DIS) produced “Moana 2” and Universal (UVV) produced “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.”
The three films are expected to deliver at least $300 million during the five-day holiday period, which technically spans the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday following (“Wicked” opens Friday, Nov. 22, so it’s technically outside the typical window).
That projection doesn’t take the product deals into account. And there are products galore, from Starbucks’ (SBUX) green-themed drinks to sparking green nail polish at (CVS) and themed sweaters at Target (TGT) .
The stars of “Wicked,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande a premier event for the movie.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The five-day holiday period is expected to break records
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The film adaption of “Wicked,” the perennial Broadway musical, is directed by Jon M. Chu — most well-known for “Crazy Rich Asians” — and is a re-telling of the “Wizard of Oz” story. It’s expected to bring in somewhere around $85 million, perhaps as much as $100 million during its opening weekend. According to Variety, “Wicked” has already brought in $19.2 million during previews.
“Wicked” the movie is actually “Wicked 1” and “Wicked 2.” The second half of the film is expected to be released next Thanksgiving, a fact which angers some fans and makes perfect sense to others:
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“Wicked” the novel was published in 1995 and written by Gregory Maguire and it tells the story of “The Wizard of Oz” from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West.
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The musical adaptation of the book has run on Broadway since 2003, making it the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history. “Wicked” the movie has received rave reviews so far, with the Wall Street Journal calling it a “lavishly entertaining adaption of the Broadway hit set in the land of Oz.”
The reviewer, Kyle Smith, also wrote, “The plot is so rich and eventful, and the script so witty, that the movie doesn’t drag once the extended flashback starts. Moreover, every moment is eye candy. The screen bursts with whimsical costumes (by Paul Tazewell) and sets (Nathan Crowley is the production designer), and all of the important roles are impeccably cast.”
“Gladiator II” has been less favorably reviewed, with reviewers describing it as a “snooze” and “halfhearted.”
Reviews for “Moana 2” won’t be available until Nov. 26.
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Hollywood is still trying to return to pre-pandemic box office numbers
The Thanksgiving period is always a major driver of box office receipts but the post-pandemic years have not been kind to Hollywood. Perhaps that’s one reason two hugely popular films are getting the sequel treatment this year.
“Moana,” the original, opened to $82.1 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday in 2016 and ultimately grossed $249 million at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. The animated feature has continued to attract viewers over the years — in fact, it was the most streamed film in 2023, according to Nielsen.
In 2000, Gladiator grossed $465.5 million worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2000. It also won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Russell Crow for Best Actor.
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