Published Nov 12, 2024
Synopsis
Distributed By: Paramount | Release Date: 11/22/24 | Run Time: 150 Minutes
Action | Adventure. Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people…Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen
Screening Notes
Gladiator 2 had a lot to live up to and delivers a worthy continuation of the original...no easy task, given the original won Best Picture, earned a Best Actor for Russell Crowe, and took home 3 other Oscars in 2000. The action is intense and well-choreographed, and the arena sequences an entertaining spectacle. The new characters are memorable, with Mescal delivering a strong performance as Lucius, and Denzel bringing his usual charm and charisma, plus some pretty scary and crafty vindictiveness. While overall thrilling to watch, two small critiques are (1) it falls a little short of the emotional punch that made the original so raw and intimate (in fairness, this would be impossible to match) and (2) a couple of the arena battles and the emperor siblings are a little over-the-top.
Boxoffice Estimate
On the downside, there are a couple of factors that could hold the film back. First, sequels to classics can be a tough sell, especially when they arrive decades later. Some fans of the original might be skeptical and could choose to sit this one out if it seems like it’s just banking on nostalgia without bringing something truly fresh. Then, there’s the competition issue…WB 11/22 has a loaded slate (Christmas Pageant, Red One, Wicked, Moana), providing moviegoers with so many options that it might not get the same undivided attention it would on a different release date.
On the plus side, in addition to action and a storyline that are on point, Gladiator also has three big things working in its favor: (1) nostalgia and modern star power; the original Gladiator was a massive hit, both critically and financially, and it's one of those classic films people still talk about…this kind of legacy usually attracts loyal fans who are eager to see if the sequel lives up to the original, (2) with stars like Denzel and Pascal, the movie is getting some extra buzz; these two well-loved actors have broad appeal, and they'll likely pull in moviegoers who aren’t just there for the historical epic but for the talent itself, and (3) this is the only action/adventure film on the holiday slate.
Gladiator 2 should yield some serious box office numbers…modeling points to a $63M opening, with a range between $56M and $69M. The film should produce an average multiple of 3.6x, which should generate a final gross between $204M and $250M. The projected opening is 6x greater than the average R-rated title opening in Nov over the past 8 years and in line with the original title, which on an inflation-adjusted basis opened to $63M and went on to total $342M (the original yielded an impressive 5.4x multiple). Overall, I’m also thinking this year’s Thanksgiving Holiday week has the potential to be one of, if not the, best on record: 2018: $266M | 2019: $224M | 2022: $107M | 2023: $145M.
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