“Moana 2” Makes a Splash, Shattering Thanksgiving Box Office Records
Disney’s “Moana 2” has made a triumphant voyage to the top of the box office, setting new records for Thanksgiving weekend and solidifying Disney’s dominance in the animation realm.
The highly anticipated sequel, which follows Moana and Maui on another epic adventure across the sea, raked in an estimated $221 million domestically in its first five days, making it the highest five-day opening of all time. This impressive feat surpasses the previous record held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($204.6 million).
Related – New Moana 2 Experiences Coming to Disney World, Disneyland and More
“Moana 2” also claims the title of the highest Thanksgiving opening weekend box office, beating “Frozen’s” $94 million total in 2014. Furthermore, it achieved the highest five-day Thanksgiving total, surpassing “Frozen 2’s” second-weekend earnings of $125 million in 2019.
Disney now holds the record for the top seven Thanksgiving opening weekends of all time, as well as nine out of the top ten, demonstrating its continued strength in delivering family-friendly entertainment during the holiday season.
Globally, “Moana 2” has already amassed an impressive $386 million, further solidifying its box office dominance.
This success adds to Disney’s impressive streak at the box office this year. The company now holds the top three domestic openings of 2024, with “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and now “Moana 2” leading the charge.
The strong performance of “Moana 2” highlights the enduring appeal of Disney animation and the power of storytelling to resonate with audiences of all ages. As the film continues its theatrical run, it’s poised to make even bigger waves and solidify its place as a box office giant.
“Moana 2 has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that Moana has become,” Alan Bergman, co-chairman, Disney Entertainment, said. “We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented and hard-working creative team at Disney Animation who brought this new adventure to life, alongside our wonderful stars Auli‘i and Dwayne and great new music. This is a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to all the moviegoers and fans who’ve helped make this a record-breaking debut.”
Away from the box office, the film was a hit with audiences as well. Moana 2 received an “A-” CinemaScore and a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 87%.
The success of Moana 2 is just another example of the might of the sea-faring franchise.
Since hitting theaters in 2016, Moana has consistently been among the Top 10 most-streamed movies of the year —and in 2023, the film starring the voice talents of Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson crossed 1 billion hours streamed on Disney+. In fact, it was the most streamed movie on any platform in the U.S.
However, the franchise’s popularity goes far beyond her onscreen appearances.
Not only are apparel, books, and toys offered at Disney Store and other retailers, but Moana’s story continues across the globe at Disney’s theme parks and soon guests can enjoy Disney The Tale of Moana aboard the Disney Treasure cruise ship, which will bring Moana’s musical journey to the stage for the very first time.
“Seeing the popularity of Moana grow since it was released eight years ago is incredible,” Jared Bush, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, said. “We spend so long making these movies, and everyone puts their heart into them. That people still find themselves in her story and want to be with Moana on the canoe, it’s a dream come true.”
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