Disney’s highly anticipated animated sequel, Moana 2, has made an explosive debut at the Thanksgiving box office, surpassing all expectations and heading towards a historic opening weekend. With a staggering $57.5 million opening on Wednesday, including $13.8 million from previews, industry experts predict that Moana 2 is on track to earn over $175 million during its five-day launch period (Wednesday through Sunday). In fact, rival studios are projecting even higher numbers, with estimates exceeding $200 million, possibly reaching $225 million or more. However, Disney remains tight-lipped until Friday to avoid any premature announcements and comparisons to last weekend’s slightly underestimated releases of Wicked and Gladiator II.
Moana 2 is set to break multiple records during its debut week. It has already secured the title of the highest-grossing Thanksgiving opening of all time for the five-day period, surpassing the previous record held by Frozen ($94 million). Additionally, it is expected to outperform Frozen II ($125 million) as the highest earner for the holiday stretch. The film has also achieved significant milestones on its opening day alone – becoming the biggest opening day ever for a Walt Disney Animation title and ranking as the third-highest opening day for any animated film (unadjusted for inflation), trailing only behind Incredibles 2 and Inside Out 2. Furthermore, it claimed the spot for the third-biggest overall box office day in 2024 so far, following Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2.
Beyond these achievements, Moana 2 has a chance at becoming the biggest five-day opener in cinematic history.
Originally developed as a television series before transitioning into a theatrical sequel, this Disney animated family film showcases new songs composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. Moana 2, directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, reunites the beloved voice cast of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. The story follows Moana as she embarks on an unexpected adventure in uncharted waters after receiving a call from her ancestors. Johnson reprises his role as the demigod Maui.
Despite receiving mixed reviews compared to its predecessor, Moana 2 continues to generate immense interest among audiences. The film’s audience score (now known as the “popcornmeter”) on Rotten Tomatoes stands at an impressive 88 percent, while it received an A- CinemaScore (compared to Moana’s A grade) and is garnering strong positive feedback on PostTrak. Critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes currently sit at a 66 percent approval rating, in contrast to the original film’s outstanding 95 percent.
Thanks to the combined power of Moana 2, Universal’s Wicked, and Paramount’s Gladiator II, the overall five-day box office revenue for the Thanksgiving holiday is projected to reach unprecedented heights – potentially surpassing $315 million.
Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated adaptation of Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has also enjoyed a record-breaking run thus far. It is expected to gross $97.1 million during the five-day holiday period after opening with an impressive $112 million last weekend – making it the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation. With estimated domestic ticket sales exceeding $240 million by Sunday, Wicked is proving to be a formidable contender alongside Moana 2 in dominating this year’s Thanksgiving box office.
