Disney’s Next Big Hit: Can Moana 2 Beat Frozen’s Box Office Record?

The highly-anticipated Moana 2 has made a significant impact, shattering records even before its official release on Thanksgiving weekend. The animated sequel generated an impressive $13.8 million in previews on Tuesday, setting a new record for preview gross in the history of Walt Disney Animation titles and coming in as the second-highest for an animated film overall, trailing only behind Pixar’s Incredibles 2.

Here are some key points and highlights surrounding the monumental success of Moana 2:

• Despite only 48% of schools and 20% of colleges being on break, the film managed to achieve this milestone, showcasing the immense anticipation and excitement surrounding its release.
• The sequel is poised to dominate the Thanksgiving box office with a projected five-day opening of $125 million to $135 million, potentially surpassing the previous record set by Disney’s Frozen at $93.6 million.
• Moana 2, along with other major releases like Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II, is expected to contribute to a new high in overall box office revenue during the Thanksgiving holiday season.

In addition to the monumental success of Moana 2, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II have also made significant contributions to the pre-Thanksgiving box office landscape. Wicked took the lead on Tuesday’s chart with $16.6 million, while Gladiator II brought in a solid $6.7 million, strategically positioning themselves ahead of the Thanksgiving competition.

Originally conceived as a television series, Moana 2 was reimagined as a theatrical release. Building on the success of the first Moana, which became a cultural phenomenon in 2016, the sequel promises a new adventure for fans. Featuring new songs by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, and directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film reunites Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui, respectively.

While the sequel has received mixed reviews from critics compared to the original, audience enthusiasm remains high, with a strong score on the “popcornmeter” on Rotten Tomatoes and positive viewer satisfaction indicated by PostTrak exit polls. Moana’s latest adventure is already riding a wave of success, promising a thrilling and memorable cinematic experience for audiences around the world.