Disney woke up on this Thanksgiving Day thankful that it did not send Moana 2 to streaming as originally intended. Realizing how popular the Moana brand had become since the release of the first film in 2016, Disney pivoted from a streaming debut to a theatrical release for the sequel, and it’s paying off handsomely heading into the weekend. After a record-breaking Tuesday preview launch, Moana 2 continues to smash box office records.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Moana grossed $57.5 million on its first full day of release yesterday, which includes the $13.8 million made during Tuesday previews. This makes it the single best day for a Walt Disney Animation film ever, and it’s the third-highest opening for an animated release behind Inside Out 2 ($63.5 million) and Incredibles 2 ($71.2 million). At this rate, it’s going to exceed the projected $130-135 million five-day opening that box office analysts were predicting and could be headed for $175 million or higher over the five-day period. Should that hold, Moana 2 would set a new record for a theatrical release during the Turkey Day holiday frame.
Some think $200 million or more is on the cards for the five-day figure, but Disney is being modest with its predictions. Word of mouth for the sequel is strong so far with an “A-” CinemaScore from opening day audiences, and an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. So far, families and moviegoers are ignoring the reviews, which have the film coming in at 66% among critics on the aggregator site compared to the 95% earned by its 2016 predecessor.
The Thanksgiving Day Holiday Box Office Is on Fire
This year’s Thanksgiving holiday is shaping up to be one of the best the industry has seen in years. Not only is Moana 2 killing it, but Wicked continues to soar to new box office heights with $20.4 million made on Wednesday. Word of mouth for the movie continues to be strong and some think its total domestic gross could land around $245-250 million by the end of the long holiday weekend. Also making noise with moviegoers is Gladiator II. While the $6.6 million earned by the sequel seems slim compared to Moana 2 and Wicked, it’s perfectly acceptable for a historical epic aimed at a largely male demographic. The movie will gross over $100 million at the domestic box office, and its global tally is going to look rather mighty by that time as well. It’s clear that the movie industry is eating very well and is showing no signs of getting full this Thanksgiving.
Related Does ‘Moana 2’ Have a Post-Credits Scene? The Full Ending, Explained
Fans should stick around through ‘Moana 2’ credits as it features a setup for future adventures and a fan-favorite return.
The Moana franchise has experienced impressive growth since its debut in 2016. The first film earned over $687 million worldwide and went on to be nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “How Far I’ll Go.” The movie also proved to be a huge success on physical media, becoming the biggest seller of 2017, pulling $116.3 million after selling 4.4 million copies. Moana’s audience grew further on Disney+, where the movie became the most-watched title. All of which led to Disney to reevaluate releasing the sequel as a TV series on Disney+. Not only is the sequel pulling in major box-office numbers, but it’s possible the live-action remake scheduled for release in 2026 will also be a big hit.
Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller from a screenplay by Miller and Jared Bush, Moana 2 is set three years after the first movie and sees the titular character, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, searching for more people connected to the ocean. Soon, an unexpected call from her ancestors sends her on an epic and dangerous adventure to the seas of Oceania. The film also features the vocal talents of Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, Alan Tudyk, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, and Gerald Ramsey.
Moana 2
is now playing in theaters nationwide.
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