Moana 2 Shatters a Box Office Record Set By Frozen 2

As a seasoned moviegoer who’s witnessed the evolution of animated films over the past few decades, I must admit that Moana 2 has truly taken me by storm. Having grown up with Disney classics like The Lion King and Aladdin, it’s been an absolute joy to see the Moana franchise grow into a bona fide powerhouse.

In a remarkable turn of events, the animated sequel to Moana has once again made history by breaking another box office record. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Moana 2 earned an impressive $28 million, significantly outperforming Frozen 2’s $15 million taken in during the same period back in 2019. As of now, Moana 2 has garnered a total of $85.5 million domestically and is expected to generate approximately $175 million over the extended five-day weekend. There are predictions that it could even surpass $200 million.

Despite the strong performance of Moana 2, both previous box office champions are performing admirably during the holidays. According to Variety, last week’s leader, Wicked, is projected to earn approximately $105.6 million this weekend, while Gladiator II is expected to bring in an additional $45 million to its domestic earnings.

Regardless of mixed opinions from critics, Moana 2 kicked off its box office run by shattering records. On its opening night, it raked in an impressive $13.8 million, breaking the record for highest earnings on a Thanksgiving release. Compared to its predecessor, which made $82 million over five days during Thanksgiving 2016 and eventually grossed $248.7 million domestically, Moana 2 has proven to be a far more successful film.

Disney’s newest release has contributed to a rise in box office earnings during November, marking an ongoing upward trend for cinemas this fall. After initially struggling, the business at movie theaters has seen remarkable growth, with three high-anticipated movies all performing strongly. This positive momentum is expected to persist as we approach the holiday season; while December’s Kraven the Hunter may underperform, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King are likely to attract large audiences during Christmas.

Moana has undeniably become a successful Disney franchise. Although no official announcement has been made about a third film, it seems inevitable that one will be coming soon. The post-credit scene of Moana 2 sets up potential storylines for Moana 3, and it’s apparent that fans are eager to see more of this series. Following the release of the live-action Moana in 2026, Disney might decide to produce another animated sequel, hoping it will be as popular as Moana 2.

It’s expected that “Moana 2” will do well at the box office due to its robust competition with “Wicked” for family audiences. However, its impressive opening suggests there’s space for both in the market. In fact, nothing else is targeting a similar audience until mid-December, which gives “Moana 2” a three-week period where it could reign supreme. This dominance could make it one of the top-earning films of 2024 and potentially one of the highest grossing movies ever made.

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2024-11-29 22:41