‘Gladiator II’ scores mighty $87m in int’l box office debut

Ridley Scott's much-anticipated sequel "Gladiator II" has claimed a triumphant opening at the international box office, raking in US $87 million across 63 markets. The follow-up to Scott's 2000 Oscar-winning epic has set a new record for Paramount Pictures, achieving the studio's largest international R-rated opening weekend. 

It also marks the best overseas debut of Scott's career, surpassing his previous hits like "The Martian" and "Gladiator". 

Imax contributed significantly to the film's opening success, earning US $7 million from 453 screens, placing it among the company's top three international debuts of 2024. The United Kingdom led the charge with US $11.4 million from 722 locations, followed by France with US $10.3 million from 729 sites. Spain contributed US $5.6 million from 411 screens, while Australia and Mexico brought in US $5 million and US $4.7 million, respectively.  

"Gladiator II", starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, is set to make its North American debut on November 22. It will face stiff competition from Universal's highly anticipated musical adaptation of "Wicked".  

With a production budget exceeding US $250 million, "Gladiator II" must perform strongly across global markets to ensure profitability. While audience anticipation remains high, reviews have been mixed, with the film securing a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised its grandeur but noted its inability to match the emotional and cinematic impact of its predecessor.  

The sequel picks up two decades after the original, centering on Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of Emperor Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix in the first film), as he seeks to restore Rome's former glory.

Elsewhere at the international box office, Dwayne Johnson's holiday-themed action film "Red One" added US $14.7 million in its second weekend across 75 markets, bringing its global total to US $84.1 million. 

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The film, co-released by Amazon MGM and Warner Bros, faces an uphill battle to recover its US $250 million production budget and US $100 million marketing costs, banking on continued holiday viewership.  

Universal and DreamWorks Animation's "The Wild Robot" crossed the US $300 million mark globally, with US $170 million from overseas markets. Meanwhile, Sony's "Venom: The Last Dance" hit the US $436.1 million worldwide, marking its place as a major box office success in 2024.