Universal's Wicked and Paramount's Gladiator 2 are set to grace the silver screen this Friday, promising an exciting cinematic experience. Movie theater owners are hopeful that these highly anticipated films, often referred to as "Glick-id" or "Wicked Glad," will be the answer to last year's "Barbenheimer" phenomenon. When Barbie and Oppenheimer drew crowds back to the theaters, now it's the turn of these two epic tales.

Witness the Epic Battle of Wicked and Gladiator

Premiere and Anticipation

The much-awaited premieres of Universal's Wicked and Paramount's Gladiator 2 are set to take place on Friday. Mark Malinowski, the VP of Global Marketing at Showcase Cinemas, emphasizes the extraordinary presales for both films. "Our presales for Wicked and Gladiator are through the roof," he states. It's interesting to note that Wicked is actually tracking even higher presales than Barbie did, generating a lot of buzz among movie enthusiasts.Fans of both films are excited and not shy about showing their enthusiasm. At a Wicked preview in Chestnut Hill, cosplay expert Chloe Hershenson created a unique mash-up of both movies. She humorously said, "I am Glenda the good Gladiator.. or since we’re in Boston, Glenda the wicked good Gladiator." This showcases the creative spirit of the fans and their love for these two cinematic worlds.

Themed Concessions

Showcase is going all out with special Gladiator and Wicked-themed concessions. For young fans, there are pink puff potion and emerald elixir cocktails or mocktails, adding an extra touch of magic to the moviegoing experience. These themed treats enhance the overall atmosphere and make the event even more memorable.

Stars and Performances

Universal's Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and they left audiences in awe with their live singing on film. Fan Nora Annevers expresses her excitement, saying, "I’m mostly excited for Ariana Grande because she’s a really good singer, and she’s been wanting this part for a really long time to be Glenda." The performances of these female leads have received rave reviews from fans, further adding to the allure of the film.Many movie fans plan to see both Wicked and Gladiator 2, eager to immerse themselves in these epic stories. However, if "Glick-id" isn't your thing, there's always the option to wait until next week when Disney's Moana 2 drops, providing a diverse range of cinematic choices for movie lovers.