Wicked' and 'Gladiator 2' kicked off Thursday night respectively grossing $20M and $6M+ in previews. 'Wicked's cash includes earlier previews.

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

Just like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” combined last year for the box office juggernaut of “Barbenheimer,” Universal’s musical “Wicked” and Paramount’s action epic “Gladiator II” will try to create “Glicked” this weekend.

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.

The two tentpoles are kicking off what's expected to be the biggest Thanksgiving in history at the domestic box office, which welcomes 'Moana 2' on Wednesday.

Wicked and Gladiator II will go head-to-head at the North American box office this weekend - moviegoers are calling it "Glicked" - but the musical is so far looking like the clear victor. Check it out!

Whether “ Wicked ” and “ Gladiator II ” inspires an unorthodox double feature à la last summer’s simultaneous blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” remains a question. Either way, there’s a box office battle brewing between Universal’s pink-and-green musical and Paramount’s bloody sword-and-sandal epic, both of which open on Friday.

Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” and Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” are expected to post gravity-defying numbers at the domestic box office this weekend.