Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II Debuts Strong at Nigerian Box Office with ₦99.1 Million Opening

Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Gladiator II has made a remarkable debut at the Nigerian box office, grossing ₦99.1 million in its opening weekend, marking it as the second-highest opening of the year. According to data from the Nigerian Box Office, the epic sequel earned ₦8.13 million on Wednesday and ₦8.96 million on Thursday, ahead of its weekend release.

The film’s success follows an advanced screening in Nigeria, which grossed ₦17 million over two days. This impressive achievement places Gladiator II among the top film openings in Nigeria for 2024, underscoring the country’s growing appeal as a key market for global cinema.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator II picks up the story of Lucius, the nephew of Maximus, the hero of the original Gladiator. After Roman emperors seize his home, Lucius becomes a gladiator, fighting for revenge and striving to restore the glory of Rome. The film explores themes of vengeance and redemption, set against the backdrop of ancient Rome.

With a star-studded cast that includes Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington, Gladiator II is expected to continue drawing strong audiences in Nigeria.

On the international front, the film has grossed an estimated $87 million, marking the biggest opening for any Ridley Scott film. The sequel’s development spanned two decades, with multiple iterations of the script considered since the release of the original Gladiator in 2000. The final version began taking shape in 2018, and Paul Mescal was cast in early 2023.

Written by David Scarpa (known for Napoleon) in collaboration with Peter Craig, the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and filmed between June 2023 and January 2024.