"Gladiator II" commands strong box office expectations

• Like superhero series and franchises, marrying old storylines with new casting has been a reliable defensive play against the risk of low attendance in the post-pandemic, saturated streaming era.

Driving the news: "Gladiator II" had a strong showing in its opening week overseas, bringing in $87 million.

• Come Friday, the Ridley Scott film is expected to open domestically to high fanfare as well.
• Analysts are projecting $65 million in ticket sales, which is more than "other post-pandemic big-budget tentpoles aimed at older males, such as James Bond installment 'No Time to Die' ($55 million debut in 2021) and 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' ($60.3 million in 2023)," Variety notes.

Here's my spoiler-free review: After taking in a screening on Tuesday night hosted by IMAX, it's clear that "Gladiator" has no equivalent.

• This new incarnation, filled with shocking violence and impressively elaborate sets, was a visual feast that was fun to watch. The acting was good, but the script lacked depth.
• The intrigue: Maybe because Crowe isn't in the film, it pays too much homage — through flashbacks, reused lines, costumes and props — to Maximus, his original character, the first gladiator. All of it made me miss him more and want to rewatch the first movie.

Overall, watching "Gladiator II" felt like revisiting an old neighborhood or favorite restaurant craving a certain hole to be filled, but realizing too much has changed.

• Caveat: I didn't have a great seat, which also factors into how much I enjoy a film, particularly in IMAX.

What they're saying: "It's an old movie, recast, like 'Lawrence of Arabia,'" IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond, who loved the film, told Axios in the lobby of the theater after the screening.

What we're watching: The first "Gladiator" generated nearly $461 million in box office receipts globally, according to Box Office Mojo, or more than four times its budget.

• The sequel reportedly cost around $250 million to make, which means — after marketing costs and theater takes — it'll need around $700 million in ticket sales globally to break even.