Moana 2 is making waves at the box office, achieving incredible success during its opening week. Released on Wednesday in North American theaters, the animated sequel exceeds all expectations, setting multiple records. Moana 2 brought in a stunning $28 million on Thanksgiving Day, surpassing Frozen II’s Thanksgiving earnings to set a new record for the highest-grossing Thanksgiving Day ever for an animated film. To date, the movie has amassed an impressive $85.5 million in the United States.
More recods are likely to come over the weekend.
Breaking Record on Thanksgiving Day On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Moana 2 raked in a whopping $28 million. This is not only the highest-grossing Thanksgiving Day ever but also almost double what Frozen II earned on the same day in 2019 ($15 million). The film’s Thanksgiving performance surpassed other blockbusters, making it one of the biggest single-day earnings for an animated film.
Moana 2 being down 51.3 percent from the opening day of Wednesday had it as the fourth high in Thursday non-opening day since inception. The film also opened animation films at a high-end box office record.
Projected Moana 2 opening weekend explosion
With such a strong showing on Thanksgiving Day, Moana 2 is on its path to break the opening five-day weekend record. The movie is expected to collect a sum of between $210 million and $230 million from the United States until Sunday’s end. However, all box office collections are reported figures, which are notoriously unpredictable. Moana 2 will continue its dominant pace then.
Breaking Records in every Genres
Here are some of the top records Moana 2 has recorded to date:
Highest-Grossing Thanksgiving Day Ever
- Moana 2: $28 million
- Frozen II: $15 million
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: $15 million
- Toy Story 2: $13.1 million
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: $12.4 million
Moana 2 went further to break the record of Thanksgiving Day and left other big franchises in its wake. Such a victory confirms the immense popularity of the film and broad appeal.
Highest-Grossing Thursday Non-Opening Day Ever
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker $30.6 million
- Spider-Man: No Way Home, $29.3 million
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen $29.1 million
- Moana 2: $28 million
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens $27.4 million
Moana 2 could take the fourth spot in total Thursday earnings for films that do not open. It’s impressive that an animated movie has gone this far, even with action-heavy films like Star Wars and Spider-Man competing head-to-head.
Highest-grossing Thursday non-opening day for animated films
- Moana 2: $28 million
- The Super Mario Bros Movie: $26.6 million
- Despicable Me 2: $24.5 million
- Despicable Me 4: $20.4 million
- Inside Out 2: $19.6 million
Moana 2 has set a new benchmark for animated films, not just during the Thanksgiving season but across all Thursdays in general. It has comfortably outranked other popular animated franchises, demonstrating the massive pull the film has with audiences.
A Huge Hit with Audiences and Critics
The box office numbers are impressive, but Moana 2 has also garnered a solid reception from both critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the film a 65% rating, which, while positive, reflects that it may not have reached the same heights as the original Moana. The critics’ consensus reads: “Riding high on a wave of stunning animation, even when its story runs adrift, it isn’t as inspired as the original but still delights as a colorful adventure.”
Meanwhile, audiences seem to be even more enamored with the film, giving it a high 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The positive audience response suggests that, while the critics may have reservations, Moana 2 is delivering on its promise of stunning animation and engaging storytelling.
The Success of Animated sequences
The success of Moana 2 reflects the growing trend of animated films performing incredibly well at the box office. Animated sequels, in particular, have found a solid audience, with films like Frozen II, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Despicable Me 4 showing how established franchises can continue to perform at a high level. The strong performance of Moana 2 further reinforces the power of Disney and animated sequels in general.
What’s Next for Moana 2?
With Moana 2 continuing to dominate the box office, it seems likely that it will break even more records as the weekend progresses. The success of this film highlights the strength of animated franchises and their ability to generate massive box office earnings year after year.
Fans of Moana are clearly thrilled to see the continuation of the story, and as the movie gains more attention, it’s expected to continue earning strong numbers both domestically and internationally.
Conclusion
Moana 2 is on track to become one of the most successful animated films of the year. Its Thanksgiving Day performance, breaking multiple records, and strong early earnings are a testament to the enduring popularity of this beloved franchise. As it heads into the weekend, the film is expected to perform even more impressively, with a potential record-breaking opening weekend. Whether or not it surpasses the original Moana in terms of overall success remains to be seen, but the sequel’s early performance suggests it will be another major win for Disney. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to catch Moana 2 in theaters before its box office success soars even higher
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