Gladiator IIhas passed one final milestone at the global box office. Directed by Ridley Scott,Gladiator IItakes place years after Maximus' death and focuses on his son Lucius (Paul Mescal), who must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. The first movie, also directed by Scott, was a major success both critically and financially, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Despite its predecessor’s acclaim,Gladiator IIreceived more mixed reviews, with many praising its performances and visuals, while others felt it didn’t capture the same essence as the original.
According toBox Office Mojo,Gladiator IIhas officially earned $460.5 million worldwide, achieving what will likely be its last milestone at the box office. It’s a solid total, but it does just fall short of the first film, which earned $465.5 million worldwide. However, the first film’s box office total includes its various re-releases, which provided additional revenue over the years.
What This Means For Gladiator II’s Box Office
Gladiator II Could’ve Flown Higher
The $460 million global total forGladiator IImeans that, ultimately, it might not be that profitable thanks to its estimated budget of $250 million. It also falls short of surpassing the original film’s complete earnings. When accounting for the additional re-release figures as well,Gladiator’s financial edge becomes clear, as the sequel hasn’t yet had the chance to reconnect with audiences. Nevertheless,Gladiator IIshows thateven an eagerly anticipated sequel may struggle to replicate the staying power of its predecessor.
Movies generally have to earn 2x its budget to be considered a financial success. In the case of a $250 million budget, that would be closer to $500 million.
In comparison to other films released around the same time in 2024,such asMoana 2andWicked,Gladiator II’s performance aligns closely with the broader box office trends for major 2024 releases. Other films that performed similarly includeVenom: The Last DanceandSonic the Hedgehog 3. While it has managed to hold its ground,it has not been able to outperform the aforementioned titles. Though $460 million is a sizable total, especially in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, one could argueGladiator II’s performance is ultimately underwhelming.
Our Take On Gladiator II’s Box Office Performance
Gladiator II Falls Behind Its Predecessor
WhileGladiator IImight not have surpassed the original’s overall success, it has still proven itself to be a lasting contender at the box office, especially considering the competitive nature of 2024. Additionally, it now has the chance to make up some ground bystreaming on Paramount+, at least in terms of its overall audience size. With strong performances and visuals,Gladiator II’sability to earn a decent global total is an achievement in itself, as this shows it has held on in the weeks since its release, even if it could’ve reached higher.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
