Historic Opening Weekend

Walt Disney Animation Studios has officially made history with the phenomenal debut of "Moana 2," setting new records across the board. The film’s spectacular three-day opening weekend amassed a staggering $135.5 million, while the five-day total surged to an impressive $221 million. This performance eclipses the previous record holder, "Frozen II," which debuted with $130.2 million over its first three days and $163.8 million over five days.

New Domestic Milestones

In addition to its mind-blowing box office numbers, "Moana 2" has claimed an array of new domestic milestones:

- The largest Thanksgiving weekend debut in cinematic history

- The highest debut ever on Thanksgiving

- A record-breaking Thanksgiving Day revenue of $28 million

- The most lucrative Black Friday at the box office, raking in $54.5 million

- The biggest five-day opening weekend of all time

Record Comparisons

While the studio celebrates these accolades, it's important to note that “Moana 2” fell short of surpassing the five-day opening revenue of the "Lion King" remake, which holds the record at $243.2 million. This discrepancy arises from what is referred to as “Hollywood accounting,” where the five-day opening is only counted from Wednesday to Sunday.

Significance of Success

Despite this, there is no denying that "Moana 2" marks a significant success for Disney, particularly following some recent disappointments with films like "Wish" and "Strange World." With its three-day launch placing it fifth among animated film openings—just behind the likes of "The Lion King," "Incredibles 2," and "Inside Out 2"—the film is solidifying its standing in cinematic history.

International Performance

Internationally, “Moana 2” is performing impressively as well, generating $165 million from overseas markets, bringing its global haul for the opening weekend to a remarkable $386 million. France stood out as the biggest foreign market, contributing $18.8 million and achieving the highest animated opening weekend ever recorded there. The film also secured the second-highest animated weekend openings in Italy and Brazil.

Global Records Broken

Moreover, Walt Disney Animation Studios has witnessed its best-ever launch in Latin America and has broken records in 30 individual markets worldwide, including key locations like France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico. The top foreign markets for “Moana 2” include France, the U.K. ($15.5 million), Mexico ($11.1 million), Germany ($10.5 million), Italy ($9.3 million), South Korea ($9.1 million), Australia ($8.3 million), Brazil ($7.5 million), China ($6.5 million), and Spain ($5.5 million).

Looking Ahead

As audiences flock to theaters for this eagerly anticipated sequel, Disney is undoubtedly celebrating a triumphant return to form, with "Moana 2" poised to continue its success in the weeks to come. Fans are already buzzing, and it seems that the beloved franchise is here to stay! Don't miss the magic—catch "Moana 2" in theaters now!