Gladiator II: sword-heavy sequel makes $87 million in its international box office debut

The Return of the Gladiators , and the Cash Registers The long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott ’s Gladiator, Gladiator II , stormed the international box office this weekend, raking in a robust $87 million across 63 markets. This opening marks a mighty milestone for Paramount Pictures, making it their highest-grossing international R-rated debut. The Gladiator franchise is no stranger to box office success, with the original film winning Best Picture and grossing $465 million globally. But 23 years later, does Gladiator II have what it takes to match its predecessor’s legendary run? So far, it looks like a definite contender. Breaking Records (And a Few Swords) Not only is Gladiator II flexing its muscles at the box office, but it’s also securing a top spot in the Imax rankings with $7 million from 453 screens. It’s now sitting proudly among the top three international debuts of the year. Impressive, right? That’s some serious sword-swinging. The film hit the strongest markets with the UK leading the charge, bringing in $11.4 million from 722 locations. France came in hot at $10.3 million, with Spain ($5.6 million), Australia ($5 million), and Mexico ($4.7 million) not too far behind. However, the real test comes when it lands on North American shores on November 22, where it will go toe-to-toe with Universal's mega-budget musical Wicked. Let the box office battle begin! The Plot Thickens – But Does It Live Up to the Legacy? The sequel, with a hefty $250 million-plus price tag, faces a monumental task—living up to the epic shadow of its Oscar-winning predecessor. The reviews, while not exactly raving, are mostly positive, with a solid 75% on Rotten Tomatoes . The story picks up two decades after the original, following Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of the infamous emperor Commodus, as he returns to the Colosseum, eager to restore the glory of Rome. Critics like Variety’s Owen Gleiberman are calling it "serviceable but far from great," but hey, it’s still a pretty mighty sword to swing when compared to a lot of sequels. Can Gladiator II Slay the Competition? Despite mixed reviews, Gladiator II came out swinging, beating out its main competition—Dwayne Johnson’s Red One—which brought in $14.7 million in its second weekend at the international box office. However, Red One still has some catching up to do with a global gross of $84.1 million, considering its hefty production budget of $250 million and $100 million in promotional costs. Looks like it’s going to need some holiday cheer to push those numbers up. Meanwhile, other notable box office milestones this weekend include Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot, which crossed $300 million globally, and Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance, which surpassed $400 million worldwide. With all this competition, Gladiator II is proving that a well-timed sword fight and some gladiator grit still have plenty of pull at the global box office. The Bottom Line – The Gladiators Are Back, and They’re Making Bank With Gladiator II slashing its way to an impressive international debut, the sequel shows that there’s still a market for sword-and-sandal epics in the modern era. Whether it can continue its victorious streak remains to be seen, but for now, Gladiator II is definitely the champion of the box office.