Wicked and Gladiator II are both off to a strong start at the box office; however, it won’t be as big of an opening weekend as Barbenheimer. Wicked and Gladiator II are both now playing in United States theaters.

Wicked” and “Gladiator II” both drew less in Thursday previews than their “Barbenheimer” counterparts, but are still expected to help the fall box office.

Musical adaptation "Wicked" and action epic "Gladiator II" generated a combined $25.7 million from early screenings in the U.S. and Canada, setting off the biggest box-office battle since "Barbenheimer.