“Gladiator II” also gave the box office a boost this weekend, landing in second with $55.5 million, CNBC reported. Twenty-four years after Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning movie hit theaters, the acclaimed director returned for a sequel led by Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s "Wicked" dominates Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington’s “Gladiator II” this weekend at the domestic box office.

Battling a 27 percent decline in domestic ticket sales compared with before the pandemic, studios left no marketing drum unthumped in releasing the movies.