Submission: Is “Glicked” the New “Barbenheimer”?
By Eleanor Anderson
In the not-so-distant past, the July 2023 release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer rocked movie theaters across the country. Viewers experienced the emotional play on patriarchy and gender justice and the unnerving biopic creation of the atomic bomb back-to-back, spending a minimum of 294 minutes watching both films. While the films had an inherent gender divide with Barbie catering to women and Oppenheimer targeting men, the social commentary in these films appealed to everyone, regardless of gender. In a feat of recovery for the movie industry after Covid-19, Barbenheimer garnered nearly $245 million dollars in the United States box office alone. Since these movie masterpieces, film producers and movie-goers alike have sought a similar thrill in a double feature.
Enter ‘Glicked’: the most recent dual-movie release of Gladiator II and Wicked. Both films highlight the powers of privilege and social conditioning while centering on some of Hollywood's biggest actors. The movies hold a similar gender gap to Barbenheimer, with Wicked targeting women and Gladiator II targeting men. The pre-Thanksgiving release of two highly-awaited films is sure to bring in a pretty penny for the film industry, but will it have a similar sensational effect to Barbenheimer? I don’t think so.
First of all, there are some obvious differences that structurally impact the success rates for these films. Wicked is the first in a two-part adaptation of the Broadway classic while Gladiator II is a sequel to the 2000 blockbuster starring Russel Crowe. Both musicals and sequels face limitations in viewership separately, and I would imagine this doesn’t do any favors in selling back-to-back features. There is something spectacular about witnessing an entirely new story that both Barbie and Oppenheimer provided but Wicked and Gladiator II lack.
On the other hand, the star-power of Barbenheimer is equally matched in Glicked. As someone who is guilty of watching movies exclusively because a favorite actor is featured, Glicked has names that lure people to the theater. Ariana Grande’s casting as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked has been controversial since its announcement in 2021, and her impressive performance as well as Cynthia Erivo’s jaw-dropping sound bite have done nothing but entice hesitant viewers. Similarly, big names like Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington headline Gladiator II, making it hard to deny the quality of entertainment. Barbenheimer showcased its own fair share of household names like Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. It’s impossible to deny the correlation between famous actors and successful movies. All this to say, Glicked has the potential to rival Barbenheimer.
So if the potential is there, why am I so skeptical about the actualization? I think it comes down to the power of storytelling. Barbie and Oppenheimer both challenged the common narrative of their story. Nobody expected Barbie to be anything more than a superficial beauty, but her character found depth in real-world experiences that resonated with women across the world. At the same time, Robert Oppenheimer is villainized in history classes as the creator of mass destruction, but Christopher Nolan’s perspective shows incredible nuance through a poignant re-telling of history. By challenging common expectations, both of these films captivate broader audiences. Unfortunately, I think Wicked and Gladiator II lack this component. Not only are the stories of these films already proven successful, but there is nothing to challenge the audience's predictions. There’s nothing controversial or catalytic to inspire dinner table conversations and social media frenzy. These films can be incredible movies, but without any inflammatory narratives, I don’t think we will see the same chain reaction.
By all means, experience Glicked and prove me wrong. Both films envelop you in the magic of movies and are easily worth a watch. If nothing else, take the time to fawn over Paul Mescal’s muscles and welcome the goose bumps during Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s harmonies. But as you’re leaving the theater, think about why Barbenheimer truly touched the world. Think about the impact that powerful storytelling can have on an audience, and consider if this can be easily replicated. In the meantime, I will happily watch every Glicked TikTok or Instagram reel and await the next groundbreaking double feature film release.
