Universal musical heads for third highest opening of 2024 as “Gladiator II” opens to $55.5 million Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in "Wicked" (Universal Pictures) Universal’s “Wicked” has rejuvenated the box office after weeks of declining grosses, earning the third highest opening weekend of 2024 with $114 million from 3,888 theaters. That sits only behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211.4 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($154.2 million) on this year’s opening weekend list, and shatters the $31