As most have by now picked up, two disparate, big-budget films are sharing a release date: One, an R-rated historical epic stacked with a starry cast of Oscar hopefuls. The other, a musical based on a beloved property with plenty of pink… and a second starry cast of Oscar hopefuls.
Sound familiar? With “Gladiator II” and the first part of “Wicked” coming out on Friday, movie theaters are nearing their truest chance at another “Barbenheimer,” a viral phenomenon that in 2023 drove audiences to the multiplexes by the millions, leaving a massive mark in pop culture and at the box office. As for a name for this latest prospective double feature, perhaps presciently, “Gladiator II” star Paul Mescal thought “Glicked” was the most suitable portmanteau back in July.
Additionally, familiarity and continuations of franchises decades later can work: “Top Gun: Maverick” was the first huge success since Covid-19 kneecapped movie theaters and spoke to viewers beyond those who’d seen the original “Top Gun” back in 1986, Nunan said. But whether audiences will seek out that nostalgia again is harder to predict. ‘Barbenheimer’ had an air of prestige Another “Barbenheimer” advantage was both films’ sublime pairing of director and subject matter.
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