Walt Disney’s animated musical “Moana 2” has made a remarkable debut, generating an estimated $368 million in global ticket sales over the Thanksgiving weekend, a feat that combined with “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” has led to the highest box office revenues ever recorded during this holiday in the U.S. and Canada.
As the sequel to the beloved 2016 film, “Moana 2” features the return of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, alongside Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui. The storyline follows their new adventure to lift a curse and unite oceanic communities. Initially intended for release on Disney+, the film has exceeded all expectations, raking in $221 million domestically between Wednesday and Sunday, surpassing the previous holiday record set by “Frozen 2,” which earned $125 million in 2019.
The weekend’s overall domestic box office total reached $420 million, shattering the previous record of $315.6 million from 2018, which was primarily driven by “Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Creed II.” These impressive figures come as a relief to Hollywood as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the disruptions caused by strikes from writers and actors last year.
Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman commented on the success, stating that when studios produce films filled with heart and humor, audiences will return to theaters. This resurgence in cinema attendance is encouraging, especially considering that prior to the holiday weekend, domestic ticket sales were lagging behind the previous year’s numbers.
In terms of other box office winners, “Wicked,” an adaptation of a cherished Broadway musical, earned $117.5 million over the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing its total to $359.2 million after two weekends of release. Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” contributed another $44 million domestically, culminating in a global total of $320 million.
Despite the holiday success, domestic ticket sales are still lower than pre-pandemic levels, with figures approximately 24% below the pace set in 2019. However, experts believe that the momentum gained from this weekend will translate into continued strong sales in the following weeks. Anticipated releases in December such as “Kraven the Hunter,” “Lord of the Rings: the War of the Rohirrim,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” are poised to help the industry close the year on a high note.
The outlook remains optimistic for the film industry, with audiences increasingly flocking to cinemas for quality films, signaling a bright future for theatrical releases.
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