2024 will have another huge movie clash 'as big as Barbie and Oppenheimer'
2024's answer to the epic Barbenheimer phenomenon has been set in stone as two of the year's most anticipated movies will be released on the same day.
Last year saw Oppenheimer and Barbie face off in one most highly anticipated cinematic events in history.
Simultaneously released on 21 July, it became the movie event of the year after going directly head to head at the box office.
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With the two films having wildly different genres, plots and themes, it became a cultural event in itself. This included social media commentary over which to see first in a cinematic marathon, rather than which was 'better' with a significant lack of directly rivalry existing between the two.
And who can forget the memes.
The simultaneous release also gave people a directly different new film to watch if they didn't fancy the other; an element of something called counter-programming, thus appealing to a wider audience by both offering a direct contrast to the occasion.
The phenomenon helped both films excel at the box office beyond expectations, with Oppenheimer later clearing up in award season time.
2023's success story now looks set to be repeated just one year later, with two of the year's favourite movies being released on the same day after a recent announcement.
Friday (22 November) will now see both Gladiator II and Wicked come to cinemas in what is expected to be an event rivalling the positive chaos of Barbenheimer.
For many, Gladiator II is set to be their film of the year with it a direct sequel to 2000's Gladiator, which won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
The sequel has an epic cast, which includes Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, and Joseph Quinn.
Mescal plays the role of Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Roman Empire, as he is forced in to slavery.
Inspired by Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius, he enters the world of gladiatorial combat.
And in true Barbenheimer spirit, Wicked couldn't be any more different.
A musical fantasy film based on the stage show of the same name, and inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, it stars Cytnhia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, a misunderstood woman who becomes the iconic Wicked Witch of the West.
Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh make up the supporting cast, leaving both films with star studded line ups.
The original date of Wicked had been set for 27 November but was moved to the same day as Gladiator II to primarily avoid competing with Moana 2 while also hoping to piggyback on the now established Barbenheimer boost.
We've gone from Barbie and Ken dolls vs nuclear bombs to witches facing off against gladiators, and we can't wait.
The question now is what will it be called. Wickiator? Glicked? I give up. But bring on the memes.
Topics: Film, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Entertainment, TV and Film, World News, Cinema
Tom Earnshaw