Is 'Glicked' the new 'Barbenheimer'? Wicked and Gladiator II collide in theatres for epic box office showdown

"Barbenheimer" was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn't stopped people from trying to make "Glicked" – or even "Babyratu" – happen.

The counterprogramming of Barbie and Oppenheimer in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office.

Watch the video above.

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Wicked hit Australian cinemas on Thursday. (YouTube)

And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, "Saw Patrol").

This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation Wicked opens against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic Gladiator II. Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy – it was already halfway there before the name game began: "Wickiator," "Wadiator," "Gladwick" and even the eyebrow raising "Gladicked" have all been suggested.

Gladiator II came out last week, with this weekend being the first time the two will compete in earnest at the box office. (Aidan Monaghan)

"'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more," actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of Gladiator II this week. "I think we should all band around 'Glicked.' It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it."

As with "Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, "Glicked" also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins. The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging muscles.

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Both films topped Fandango's most anticipated holiday movie survey, where 65 per cent of respondents said that they were interested in the "Glicked" double feature.

Theatres big and small are also pulling out the stops with movie-themed tie-ins. B&B Theatres will have Roman guards tearing tickets at some locations and Maximus popcorn tubs.

Marcus Theatres is doing Oz photo ops and friendship bracelet-making. Alamo Drafthouse is leaning into the singalong aspect (beware, though, not all theatres are embracing this) and the punny drinks like "Defying Gravi-Tea."

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"Rather than it being in competition, I think they're in conversation," Gladiator II star Paul Mescal said. "This industry needs a shot in the arm. Those films gave it last year. We hope to do it this year."

And the hope is that audiences will flock to theatres to be part of this moment as well. It's a sorely needed influx of could-be blockbusters into a marketplace that's still at an 11 per cent deficit from last year and down 27.2 per cent from 2019, according to data from Comscore.

"Competition is good for the marketplace. It's good for consumers," said Michael O'Leary, the president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. "Having two great movies coming out at the same time is simply a multiplier effect."

"Glicked" is currently tracking for a combined North American debut in the $US165 million (approx. $253 million) range, with Wicked forecast to earn around $US100 million (approx. $154 million) – up from the $US80 million (approx. $123 million) estimates a few weeks ago – and Gladiator II pegged for the $US65 million (approx. $100 million) range.

"Barbenheimer" shattered its projections last July. Going into that weekend, Barbie had been pegged for $US90 million (approx. $138 million) and Oppenheimer around $US40 million (approx. $61 million).

Ultimately, they brought in a combined $US244 million (approx. $375 million) in that first outing, and nearly $US2.4 billion (approx. $3.7 billion) by the end of their runs.

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It's possible "Glicked" will exceed expectations, too. And it has the advantage of another behemoth coming close behind: Moana 2, which opens just five days later on the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. "Glickedana" triple feature anyone?

"These are 10 important days," O'Leary said. "It's going to show the moviegoing audience that there's a lot of compelling stuff out there for them to see."

There are infinite caveats to the imperfect comparison to "Barbenheimer," as well. Wicked is a 'Part One'. Musicals carry their own baggage with moviegoers, even those based on wildly successful productions (ahem, Cats).

Gladiator II got a head start and opened internationally last weekend.

In fact, in the United Kingdom, it played alongside Paddington in Peru, where that double was pegged "Gladdington."

Gladiator II reviews, while positive, are a little more divided than the others. And neither directors Ridley Scott nor Jon M. Chu has the built-in box office cache that Christopher Nolan's name alone carries at the moment.

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The new films also cost more than Barbie ($US145 million, approx. $223 million) and Oppenheimer ($US100 million, approx. $154 million).

According to reports, Gladiator II had a $US250 million (approx. $384 million) price tag; Wicked reportedly cost $US150 million (approx. $230 million) to produce (and that does not include the cost of the second film, due next year).

The narrative, though, has shifted away from "who will win the weekend." Earlier this year, Chu told The Associated Press that he loves that this is a moment where "we can root for all movies all the time."

Close behind are a bevy of Christmas releases with double feature potential, but those feel a little more niche.

There's the remake of Nosferatu, the Nicole Kidman kink pic Babygirl and the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

The internet can't even seem to decide on its angle for that batch of contenders, and none exactly screams blockbuster.

Sometimes the joy is just in the game, however.

Some are sticking with the one-name mashup ("Babyratu"); others are suggesting that the fact that two of the movies feature real-life exes (Timothée Chalamet and Lily-Rose Depp) is enough reason for a double feature. And getting people talking is half the battle.

When in doubt, or lacking a catchy name, there's always the default: "This is my 'Barbenheimer'."

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