Thanksgiving Box Office Record: ‘Moana 2’ Scores Dazzling $221 Million Debut, ‘Wicked’ Adds Huge $117 Million

As a lifelong Disney enthusiast who vividly remembers the magic of the original “Moana” and its unforgettable soundtrack that still echoes in my heart, I must say that the release of “Moana 2” feels like a homecoming of epic proportions! The box office numbers are nothing short of extraordinary, proving once again that Disney knows how to captivate audiences with their timeless stories and unparalleled storytelling.

Movie theaters finally have something for which to be thankful.

In a spectacular breakthrough, Disney’s release of “Moana 2” broke the record for highest grossing film during the Thanksgiving period, earning an impressive $221 million over five days. This surpassed the previous records set by “Frozen II” in 2019 ($125 million) and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” in 2013 ($109 million). Furthermore, “Moana 2” holds the title for the biggest five-day debut ever, outperforming Universal’s 2023 blockbuster “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($205.6 million). The film’s three-day earnings of $135.5 million mark a strong beginning, besting “Frozen II’s” previous record by over $5 million. The ticket sales for the sequel far exceeded initial expectations of around $135-$145 million.

‘Moana 2’ has exceeded our grand predictions this weekend and demonstrates the powerful impact that ‘Moana’ has achieved. This is a cause for celebration, and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to its extraordinary opening weekend success.” (Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman in a statement)

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been absolutely thrilled by the current wave of cinema magic sweeping across our multiplexes! Universal’s “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II” are not only living up to expectations but also drawing crowds since their release last weekend. Adding to this Polynesian animated adventure, they’ve made this Thanksgiving period the most prosperous on record with an impressive total gross of approximately $422 million!

The movie adaptation of “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, has once again attracted a large audience, earning the No. 2 spot with $80 million over the weekend and $117.5 million during the extended holiday period. To date, it has grossed $262.4 million in North America and $359.2 million worldwide. This places “Wicked” as the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in domestic box office history, surpassing 1978’s “Grease.” Currently, it ranks fourth among stage-to-screen adaptations, trailing behind “Mamma Mia” (2008), “Les Misérables” (2012), and both versions of “Grease.” Universal is hoping that “Wicked” will eventually surpass these musical films in global box office earnings. This is significant because “Wicked” is the first part of a two-part series (the second installment, covering the latter half of the stage show, is set for release in 2025). Each film carries a production cost of $150 million, not including Universal’s extensive marketing budget.

In its debut, “Gladiator II” secured the third spot, earning approximately $30.7 million over a typical weekend and an additional $44 million within five days. Directed by Ridley Scott, the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 film “Gladiator,” has generated a domestic total of $111.2 million and a worldwide sum of $320 million thus far. It’s important to note that the production and marketing costs for this “Gladiator” sequel have been substantial, exceeding $250 million in production costs and an additional $100 million on global marketing.

The sequel to “Moana” is causing quite a stir at international cinemas, surpassing predictions by earning $165 million in its opening week. This brings its total global earnings to an impressive $386.3 million. In 2024, Disney’s “Moana 2” joins the list of successful films following the box office hits of “Inside Out 2” ($1.6 billion) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($1.3 billion). These blockbusters have helped Disney recover from a challenging 2023, marked by disappointing releases such as “The Marvels,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Wish,” and “Haunted Mansion.

Movie theaters are particularly appreciative for the success of “Moana 2”, as the sequel initially had been planned as a TV show for Disney+ before it was transformed into a theatrical film instead. The initial “Moana” was launched in 2016, earning $82 million over the extended Thanksgiving weekend. This family movie held its ground with $680 million at the worldwide box office but truly took off on digital platforms like Disney+. In 2023, seven years after its initial release, “Moana” was the most-watched film in the U.S., with a total of 11.6 billion minutes watched according to Nielsen. Given its lasting popularity, Disney is currently working on a live-action remake of the original film, scheduled for release in 2026.

Originally, it was planned as a direct release on Disney+, but at the beginning of this year, it was moved to a theatrical debut instead. According to David A. Gross, who heads Franchise Entertainment Research, this change turned out to be astute. “These are colossal earnings,” he adds.

In the sequel, Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho reprise their voice roles as Maui, the tattooed demigod, and Moana, a valiant Polynesian heroine who isn’t a princess. This time around, Moana embarks on a long voyage across the ocean to locate a secret island and lift a curse. Originally, Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for hits like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” from the first movie, didn’t return; instead, he handed over songwriting responsibilities to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, creators of “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.” Critics have given mixed reviews, with a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this critical reception hasn’t affected the number of families eagerly watching it. In fact, audiences have awarded the film an “A-” grade on CinemaScore, suggesting good word-of-mouth and potential repeat viewings during its theater run.

In fourth position, “Red One,” an action-comedy film set during Christmas and starring Dwayne Johnson as Santa’s head of security, earned approximately $12.8 million over the weekend and around $18.7 million throughout the five-day holiday period. The movie, produced by Amazon MGM, has generated a total of $75 million in North America and $148.7 million worldwide after three weeks in theaters. Initially developed for streaming, “Red One” had an estimated budget of $250 million. Given its high production cost, it’s likely to face challenges recouping its expenses during its theater run.

Over the recent holiday weekend, I found myself thoroughly enjoying Lionsgate’s heartwarming production, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. This family-friendly gem managed to secure a spot among the top five films, raking in an impressive $3.2 million during the traditional period. When extending the figures to cover the extended Thanksgiving weekend, it brought in a fantastic $4.85 million.

2024-12-01 19:47

Thanksgiving Box Office Record: ‘Moana 2’ Scores Dazzling $221 Million Debut, ‘Wicked’ Adds Huge $117 Million

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