“Moana 2” Shatters Box Office Records Over Thanksgiving Weekend

Movie theatres across the United States celebrated a record-breaking Thanksgiving, highlighted by the spectacular debut of Disney’s animated film, “Moana 2.”

The sequel to Moana set a new Thanksgiving opening record, earning an impressive $221 million domestically over five days. It surpassed previous records for the biggest five-day opening ever and the highest earnings on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

“Moana 2” outperformed the former Thanksgiving record holders, 2019’s “Frozen II” ($125 million) and 2013’s “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” ($109 million). It also eclipsed the record for the biggest five-day cinema debut previously held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($205.6 million).

Internationally, “Moana 2” also had a strong opening, earning $165 million, bringing its worldwide total to $386.3 million. This success contributes to Disney’s robust 2024 lineup, following major hits like “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which helped the studio recover from a challenging 2023.

Originally envisioned as a Disney+ television show, “Moana 2” was redeveloped into a theatrical release following the original film’s $82 million Thanksgiving debut in 2016 and a global total of $680 million. The first film also became a streaming phenomenon, becoming the most-streamed film in the U.S. in 2023, with 11.6 billion minutes viewed.

Looking ahead, Disney is developing a live-action remake of “Moana,” set for release in 2026, continuing the franchise’s widespread appeal and success.