AMC’s (AMC) stock gains after “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” grossed a combined $170 million in their opening weekend in theaters. Box Office Guru Founder and Editor Gitesh Pandya joins Catalysts Hosts Seana Smith and Madison Mills to discuss the films’ success and what it means for related businesses, as well as upcoming releases.

“This is what the box office needed this year. The film industry has had two major disruptions in the last few years. You had a pandemic that closed all the theaters, and now that things are getting back to normal, you have the double strikes,” says Pandya, and adds: “This year we had many months in 2024 with hardly any major blockbuster films. But as we enter the fourth quarter and into 2025, the prospects are very good. I have two huge films opening last weekend, which rest of the month will continue.”

Although not as successful as ‘Barenheimer,’ says Pandya, ‘Wicked’ did fantastic. ‘Gladiator II’ did really well. The reviews are good, the ratings are great, and people are coming out and spending money, and that carries into the rest of the holiday season. People are seeing trailers, posters and all the theatrical products that will hopefully come back for the rest of the year to end 2024 with a bang.”

With Disney’s (DIS) highly anticipated ‘Moana 2’ releasing this week, Pandya notes that the sequel, which he says is a “guaranteed hit,” combined with the second weekends of Gladiator II and Wicked: “We’re probably looking at the largest Thanksgiving box office in more than a decade.”

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This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.