Lucia Bybee | Writer
December 12, 2024
The dual release of the hit movie Barbie and the historical film Oppenheimer was one of the most talked about pop culture events during the summer of 2024. Quickly dubbed with the nickname “Barbenheimer”, jokes and memes circulated throughout social media. This winter, a similar pop culture phenomenon is taking place with the release of Broadway musical remake Wicked paired up with the release of the historical action movie Gladiator II.
Similar to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, these two new movies are seemingly polar opposites. Starring in Wicked is worldwide pop star and avid Wicked fan, Ariana Grande. Her co-star and close friend, Cynthia Erivo, is renowned in the film and musical industry, with her recognizable role in the musical adaptation of the book The Color Purple. Grande shows out in the movie with her role as Glinda, the Good Witch, and Erivo stuns the theater with her performance as Elphaba.
Gladiator II, on the other hand, is an action packed historical film, with a similarly star-studded cast. Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn are all featured in the exciting film. Mescal is best known for his role in the dramatic TV show “Normal People”, and is also well known for his relationship with singer Phoebe Bridgers. Washington is a film icon, and Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn are also stars in their own right the film industry, with roles in “The Last of Us” and “Stranger Things”, respectively.
The “Barbenheimer” and “Glicked” sensations are hilariously ironic, just because of the stark differences between the films. If you’re wondering which one is more “worth it” to see, there are some differing opinions. San Clemente High School junior Stella Nelson said she far preferred “Wicked, because the songs were so catchy, they’ve been in my head all week!” On the other hand, sophomore Ethan Bruche preferred Gladiator II, because “It was super interesting, and the fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat.” Although everybody has differing opinions on the new movies, it’s an undeniable coincidence that the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon repeated itself with “Glicked”
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