“Moana 2” Breaks Records: Disney’s Thanksgiving Blockbuster Leads $420M Box Office Surge
Staff Editor “Moana 2” Sails to Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Box Office Success
Disney’s “Moana 2” has made a splash at the Thanksgiving box office, raking in an impressive $221 million in ticket sales and setting a new record for the holiday weekend. The animated sequel’s international success added another $165.3 million, bringing its global total to a staggering $386 million.
The film’s triumph was part of a larger industry success story, with “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” contributing to a record-breaking $420 million Thanksgiving weekend. This performance signals a strong recovery for the film industry post-pandemic, with box office sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 25%.
Originally planned as a Disney+ series, “Moana 2” was shifted to a theatrical release, a move that paid off handsomely. The film set a new five-day opening record for Thanksgiving and became the second-best global launch of the year. This success aligns with Disney’s strategic shift under CEO Bob Iger to balance theatrical and streaming releases.
“Wicked,” the Broadway adaptation, also performed exceptionally well, earning $117.5 million over the five-day weekend and becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation, surpassing “Grease.” Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” continued its strong run, earning $44 million in its second weekend and reaching $320 million globally.
Michael O’Leary, CEO of the Motion Picture Association, emphasized the benefits of blockbuster competition, stating, “The success of multiple blockbusters challenges traditional release strategies and highlights the potential for complementary theatrical and streaming approaches.”
Looking ahead, Disney anticipates “Moana 2” could potentially gross $1 billion, while industry experts predict a significant rebound in family moviegoing for 2024. Upcoming Christmas releases aim to sustain this box office momentum.
The final box office rankings for the weekend saw “Moana 2” leading with $135 million, followed by “Wicked” at $80 million, and “Gladiator II” earning $30.7 million. Other notable performances included “Red One” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
This record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend not only showcases the resilience of the film industry but also points to a bright future for both theatrical and streaming releases in a post-pandemic world.
