Wicked and Gladiator II, two of the year’s most-anticipated films, brought in a combined $168 million in weekend sales at US and Canadian theaters, kicking off what’s likely to be a strong holiday season for cinemas.

Earlier this year, all indications pointed to Gladiator II being fall’s must-see movie. Here’s how the Roman combat epic lost its advantage.

While "Gladiator II" earned $55 million at the box office domestically, "Wicked" soared with $114 million. It was the biggest pre-Thanksgiving weekend opening since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the two movies earning the nickname "Glicked.