We are slowly inching towards Ridley Scott’s upcoming epic, Gladiator 2, slated to arrive in theatres globally on November 22. However, the sequel to the original blockbuster (2000) will be released in India a week earlier, on November 15. Now, we have received information about the sequel’s runtime.
Fandango has disclosed that Gladiator 2 will be two hours and 28 minutes long, making it 7 minutes shorter than its 2000 predecessor.
Gladiator 2’s runtime does not come as a surprise, as Ridley Scott’s epic dramas usually have long runtimes. However, this runtime will likely limit the number of shows in theatres. Adding to its woes is its R-rating, which will further reduce the number of screenings.
Moreover, Gladiator 2 will be released alongside Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, which has a longer runtime of 140 minutes. However, early box office projections slightly favour Wicked over the Gladiator sequel. The upcoming film, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has already broken several pre-sale records, including the third-best first-day ticket pre-seller for a PG-rated movie and the second-best first-day ticket pre-seller of 2024.
In addition, Wicked will likely benefit from Ariana Grande’s massive fanbase, which may boost the movie’s box office collections. Furthermore, the film was made on a significantly smaller budget than Gladiator 2, at only $145 million, while Gladiator 2 has a massive budget of $250-300 million. This suggests that the odds are more in favour of Wicked compared to the forthcoming epic sequel. Still, it is too soon to tell which of these movies will emerge victorious at the global box office. Stay tuned for more updates.