Since hitting theaters over Thanksgiving, Moana 2 has been crushing it at the box office, making history with record earnings. The follow-up to the 2016 animated hit far exceeded expectations, opening to a jaw-dropping $225 million over the five-day holiday period, which includes $139.7 million over the traditional three-day weekend. These figures beat initial expectations of $125–$135 million, signalling the continued interest in Moana’s escapades.
Disney’s Moana 2 wasn’t the only yuletide powerhouse. It joined Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator 2 to smash Thanksgiving box office records, with domestic grosses hitting an all-time high of $420 million. That topped the previous record of $316 million in 2018.[via Comscore]
Internationally, Moana 2 opened to a record $389 million, the biggest animated film debut ever. That remarkable launch included $165.8 million from international market, giving the film a first-place finish everywhere but China.
The Path to Phenomenon Status
The road to franchising Moana was anything but traditional. The original 2016 release was a pleasant box office success but built significant cultural momentum in the years since, becoming the most streamed movie of 2023 on all platforms. What started as a plan for a Disney+ series ultimately became a theatrical release, a move that acknowledges just how many generations of viewers have come to love the franchise.
Moana 2 would serve as a sequel and it would follow the title character on a quest to reveal ancient secrets in the uncharted seas directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller. Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui, and Auli’i Cravalho comes back as the fierce Moana, both of them inject new life into their beloved characters.
Disney Entertainment’s co-chairman, Alan Bergman, said in a statement, “Moana 2 has exceeded even our lofty expectations this weekend and is a confirmation of how much a phenomenon Moana has become.”
Records Smashed by Moana 2
Here’s a breakdown of the records shattered by the sequel:
Biggest 5-Day Debut in Box Office History:
- Moana 2 (2024): $225 million
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023): $204 million
Biggest Thanksgiving Day Gross:
- Moana 2 (2024): $28 million
- Frozen II (2019): $15 million
Highest Three-Day Walt Disney Animation Debut:
- Moana 2: $139.7 million
- Frozen II: $130.3 million
Biggest Black Friday Gross Ever:
- Moana 2: $54.5 million
- Frozen II: $34.2 million
Global Opening Records for an Animated Film:
- Moana 2: $389 million
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie: $377 million
Internationally, Moana 2 claimed the title of the biggest animated opening in France with $18.8 million, setting regional records in Latin America and individual markets like Australia and Mexico.
Why the Film Resonates
Moana 2 has turned into a lot more than a mere follow up, it now celebrates the cultural phenomenon the franchise has become. Beautiful clash of colours, melodic score, and emotional arcs, the sequel hooks audiences in furthering the legacy of Disney’s beloved franchises.
With worldwide figures still rising, Moana 2 is not only set for an extraordinary animated hit but also a canonical cinematic victory. Fans and industry insiders are excited to see how high Moana’s latest voyage will soar.
