“Gladiator II” Enters International Arena With a Powerful Opening Weekend

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II burst into the international arena this past weekend with a very strong start. Scott’s sequel to his 2000 Best Picture Winner opened across 63 markets, earning a massive thumbs up from audiences and boasting an $87 million dollar start.  This makes Gladiator II Scott’s overseas debut in his long, illustrious career.

Gladiator II also conquered $7 million on IMAX across 453 screens, another formidable opening salvo.

In recent weeks, as Scott’s epic’s release date has neared both internationally and in the United States, press screenings and a publicity push have shed light on the scope of the understanding and the winning results. The production’s scale was probably best captured by star Paul Mescal: “If you can run a set the size of Gladiator II, I think you could give it a good go to run the Roman Empire.”

Gladiator II tells the tale of Paul Mescal’s Lucius, a young man who witnessed the death of the beloved hero Maximus (played by Russell Crowe in the original) at the hands of his twisted uncle, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucious is eventually forced to fight in the Colosseum after his home is conquered, and he’s sold into slavery and eventually becomes a gladiator. Denzel Washington’s Macrinus now owns Lucius, and while he might not be able to free him, he can offer something possibly sweeter—the head of the man who wronged him.

Mescal and Washington are joined by Pedro Pascal as the former Roman general Marcus Acacius, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, reprising her role from the original, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Rory McCann as Tegula.

The sequel successfully launched in the U.K. with 722 locations, France with 729 locations, Spain with 411 locations, Australia with 353 locations, and Mexico with 922 locations.

Gladiator II opens in the United States on November 22.

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Featured image: Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.