Entertainment & Media
Glicked: Which Movie is Better?
Mya Hans
Volume 5 Issue 3
January 14, 2025

Image Provided by Max Ching
“Glicked” is a portmanteau fans are using to describe the coincidence of the movies Gladiator II and Wicked, debuting on the same day in theaters, on November 22, 2024. This unique term brings attention to both movies, increasing viewership. “Glicked” is doing exceptionally well in box office, both movies receiving multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, but which movie is better?
Gladiator II is a continuation of the classic 2000’s movie Gladiator with an audience rating of 3.1/5 stars. People were at first hesitant to see it, considering the universal opinion that sequels are usually nowhere near as good as the original movie. There are mixed reviews about this movie, some claiming the acting is great, but not accurate to the time period, or that it was an unnecessary sequel, or even that the characters in Gladiator II don’t live up to the iconic characters in the first movie. Erik Kain, a writer for Forbes magazine states that, “Gladiator II is a truly terrible film in almost every way imaginable, making even its wildly bombastic combat dull and trite.” Inversely, Kristy Puchko, a top critic on the Rotten Tomatoes website says, “For all its faults, Gladiator II is an extraordinary film, the kind that demands to be seen in theaters.” Overall, the feedback from Gladiator II has been a mix of positive and negative. Wicked on the other hand, has been receiving a lot of love and positive reviews, with an audience rating of 4.1/5 stars.
Wicked is an on-screen adaptation of the well-known Broadway hit. It is the first part of the story, representing Act 1 of the musical. The second movie will come out next year, to finish the story, representing Act 2 of the musical. The two main characters are one of the most influential pop stars of the century, Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda and talented Oscar-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo who plays Elphaba. Top Critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website called it “Wickedly magical” and “a thrill, at times wildly funny, heart-soaring, and ultimately inspirational.” I agree with all the positive reviews of Wicked. Although I did not see the original show on Broadway, this movie convinced me to. The singing, choreography, costume designs, and all the actors in the movie are incredible. The movie was very long (2 hours and 40 minutes); however, it certainly did not feel that long. I may be biased because I have not seen Gladiator II but based on reviews, clearly the consensus would agree. If I had to recommend a movie, I would recommend Wicked. You don’t have to be a musical theater lover, or even a fan of the story to enjoy a 10/10 movie!