Moana 2 Breaks Thanksgiving Record with $221 Million Box Office Haul
Disney’s new movie, Moana 2, just had a record-breaking opening weekend, bringing in a whopping $221 million in the US and Canada over the Thanksgiving holiday. This sequel to the popular 2016 original follows the adventures of a Pacific island girl as she fights to save her people from a curse.
Despite receiving some mixed reviews, with critics mentioning a story that didn’t quite live up to the original, Moana 2 still managed to impress audiences, earning an 87% approval score. The film was initially planned as a TV series for Disney+, where the original Moana has been a major hit since the platform’s launch in 2019.
With catchy songs, a captivating island setting, and a strong female lead, Moana has become a favorite among children and parents alike, especially during the pandemic when many families were spending more time at home. To drum up excitement for the new movie, Disney went all out with merchandise, theme park appearances, and a star-studded premiere in Hawaii.
On Thanksgiving Day alone, Moana 2 raked in $28 million, setting a new record for the holiday and nearly doubling the performance of Frozen 2 in 2019. In just two days, the sequel surpassed the five-day earnings of the first Moana film.
This success marks a major comeback for Disney’s movie studio in 2024, with Moana 2 and other recent releases like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine exceeding $1 billion in ticket sales. Wicked and Gladiator II also had strong showings, indicating a promising start to the holiday movie season.
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate more exciting releases including The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim on Dec. 13, Mufasa: The Lion King on Dec. 20, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, also hitting theaters on the same day. It’s clear that there’s no shortage of entertainment options this holiday season, with something for everyone to enjoy.
