Walt Disney’s animated musical sequel, “Moana 2,” has made a spectacular entrance at the box office, generating an estimated $368 million in global ticket sales by Sunday. This success, alongside fellow releases “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” has contributed to the largest Thanksgiving weekend box office in history for both the U.S. and Canada.
“Moana 2,” the follow-up to the beloved 2016 film, reunites Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui. Together, they embark on an adventure to lift a curse and reconnect with the ocean’s inhabitants.
Originally intended for release on the Disney+ streaming platform, “Moana 2” achieved a remarkable $221 million in domestic ticket sales during the Thanksgiving holiday, surpassing “Frozen 2’s” previous record of $125 million set in 2019.
Overall, the domestic box office saw a total of $420 million this weekend, smashing the previous record of $315.6 million set in 2018, which featured hits such as “Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Creed II.” This vibrant box office performance serves as a delightful beacon of hope for Hollywood, which had faced challenges due to prolonged pandemic-related closures and fears that audiences might favor home streaming over the theater experience.
Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman highlighted the importance of quality filmmaking, stating that audiences will show up for movies that possess heart and humor. The significant ticket sales also indicate a recovery for the film industry after disruptions from writers’ and actors’ strikes last year.
“Wicked,” which is adapted from a popular Broadway musical and acts as a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” earned $117.5 million over Thanksgiving, giving it a global total of $359.2 million. Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II,” a sequel to the Oscar-winning film from two decades ago, garnered $44 million domestically, raising its global total to $320 million.
Despite the recent boost, year-to-date domestic ticket sales are still approximately 24% lower than pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and some analysts predict a strong continuation of sales as more anticipated films hit theaters in December, including “Kraven the Hunter,” “Lord of the Rings: the War of the Rohirrim,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
With promising upcoming releases, there’s a growing optimism that the film industry will close out the year on a positive note, showcasing resilience and an ability to adapt in challenging times.
By presenting engaging stories that resonate with audiences, studios are paving the way for a promising resurgence in cinema.
Leave a comment