Disney’s highly anticipated sequel, Moana 2, has made waves during the Thanksgiving holiday, smashing box office records and raking in over $220 million during the five-day period from Wednesday to Sunday, marking the best opening ever for this holiday weekend. This staggering figure puts Moana 2 at the forefront of the box office, eclipsing previous records set by other beloved animated sequels like Frozen 2 and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The film, which had its global premiere on November 21, 2024, at the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute in Hawaii, finally hit U.S. theaters on November 27. Despite being critiqued for its lukewarm reception among critics, Moana 2 has emerged as a box office titan, demonstrated by its impressive earnings both domestically and internationally.
Initial projections for the film were cautious, with some industry analysts predicting it would pull around $175 million during its opening. But it far exceeded those estimates. “Where the hell did those numbers come from?” exclaimed one rival executive. “No one saw this coming.” While expectations evolved, the film’s surge can partly be attributed to significant walk-up ticket sales, fueled by its family-friendly appeal and animated charm.
Flexing its star power, Auli’i Cravalho reprises her role as the titular character Moana, who embarks on another breathtaking adventure, joined by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who lends his voice to the lovable demigod Maui. The sequel sees our brave heroine teaming up with unlikely allies to mend the rifts caused by the awakened curse of the evil god Te Kā, whose mischief last sank the mystical island.
Following its impressive debut, Moana 2 has dethroned the previous Thanksgiving record held by Frozen 2, which generated $125 million back in 2019. On Thanksgiving Day alone, Moana 2 collected $28 million, surpassing Frozen 2’s $15 million on the same day. Disney has evidently experienced remarkable success since its shift from focusing on Disney+ exclusive releases back to theatrical releases, leading to this phenomenal market performance.
According to the box office tracking company Comscore, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend produced the highest grossing total of approximately $422 million across North America, reflecting the return of audiences to theaters post-COVID.
Other films released during this competitive time also fared well, albeit not quite as astonishingly as Moana 2. Universal’s cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked: Part I earned around $118 million, pushing it to second place after its second weekend. Following closely was Paramount's much-anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, grossing $44 million over the same stretch.
Analysts suggest the record-breaking figures of Moana 2 signal hope for the wider film industry, hinting at the possibility of sustained audience interest moving forward. The combination of live promotional events, engaging marketing campaigns, and the nostalgia factor driven by the original film’s continued popularity played pivotal roles.
“Moana 2 has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a true testimony to the phenomenon ‘Moana’ has become,” commented Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment. He also acknowledged the talented creatives behind the sequel. “It’s a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to all the moviegoers and fans who have helped make this record-breaking debut.”
During its opening weekend, nearly 60% of the audience opted for same-day tickets, which contributed to its astonishing box office take. Given the film's appealing runtime of approximately 100 minutes, it made itself accessible for family audiences eager to catch the latest adventure.
It’s important to note how significant this moment is for Disney’s strategical pivot back to theatrical films. Once conceived as direct-to-Disney+ content, the eventual decision to launch Moana 2 as part of the theatrical slate allowed the studio to tap back onto traditional cinematic excitement. This is underscored by reflecting on past Disney titles shifted to streaming during the pandemic.
The performance of Moana 2 challenges the earlier reservations about theatrical release strategies and builds substantial enthusiasm for the upcoming entries from Disney. The clear takeaway from this weekend is audiences are ready to return to theaters for films they are excited about, and as Moana 2 has proven, there’s no limit to what successful franchises can accomplish.
