Thanksgiving Cinema Surge

Movie theaters across the nation finally have a reason to rejoice this Thanksgiving weekend! Disney’s “Moana 2” has catapulted to the top of the box office, raking in an astonishing $221 million over the five-day holiday frame.

This impressive debut has obliterated the previous record held by the 2019 smash hit “Frozen II,” which took in $125 million, and the 2013 favorite “Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which garnered $109 million.

Not only has “Moana 2” set a new Thanksgiving record, but it also marks the largest five-day opening in cinematic history, surpassing Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” which earned $205.6 million earlier in 2023.

Impressively, the animated sequel brought in $135.5 million over the three-day weekend, outperforming “Frozen II” that had a $130.2 million debut prior to Thanksgiving.

Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, expressed his excitement, stating, "‘Moana 2’ has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that ‘Moana’ has become." He thanked moviegoers for contributing to this record-breaking success.

Success of 'Wicked' and Other Films

But the magic doesn't end with “Moana 2.” Universal’s film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical “Wicked” has also enjoyed a spectacular performance, coming in at No. 2 with $80 million over the traditional weekend and $117.5 million across the five-day holiday period.

To date, “Wicked” has amassed a staggering $262.4 million in North America and $359.2 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in U.S. history, overtaking the classic “Grease.”

“Wicked” is part of a two-part saga, with its sequel scheduled for release in 2025, and Universal is banking on its global success as the price tag for both films is estimated at $150 million each, not including hefty marketing expenses.

'Gladiator II' and Other Notable Films

In third place, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” continues to draw audiences, adding $30.7 million over the traditional weekend and $44 million over the five-day period, bringing its total domestic gross to $111.2 million and worldwide takings to $320 million.

However, given its production and marketing costs exceeding a whopping $350 million, the film needs to pick up significant momentum.

International Success and Future Outlook

Internationally, "Moana 2" is also excelling, with an estimated $165 million debut, pushing its global total to $386.3 million.

This film follows a streak of success for Disney this year, including hits like June’s “Inside Out 2” that grossed $1.6 billion and “Deadpool & Wolverine” with $1.3 billion, a welcome shift from the studio's lackluster performances in 2023 with titles like “The Marvels” and “Wish” underwhelming at the box office.

The original “Moana,” released in 2016, had a solid start, grossing $82 million over its Thanksgiving weekend but later became a streaming sensation.

It emerged as the most streamed movie in the U.S. in 2023, with a staggering 11.6 billion minutes watched, leading Disney to develop a live-action remake set for 2026.

Movie experts suggest that the decision to transition “Moana 2” from a planned Disney+ streaming release to theatrical might be one of the smartest moves yet, according to David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research.

Audience Reception and Future Films

The voices of Dwayne Johnson as Maui and Auli’i Cravalho as Moana return in this sequel, which follows Moana on a daring adventure to discover a hidden island and lift a curse.

Even though reviews have been mixed—sitting at 65% on Rotten Tomatoes—audiences rated the film an “A-” on CinemaScore, indicating strong word-of-mouth potential for repeat viewings.

In the mix, Amazon's “Red One,” featuring Johnson as Santa's head of security, added $12.8 million over the weekend, totaling $148.7 million globally, while Lionsgate’s holiday film “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” wrapped up the top five with a total of $32 million over the last month.

This Thanksgiving has undoubtedly marked a significant turning point for movie theaters, giving fans and studios alike an incredible reason to celebrate! With record-breaking performances and hopeful sequels on the horizon, the industry outlook looks brighter than ever.