Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ Rides a Box Office Wave, Shattering Records
Disney Animation Studios is celebrating a major victory with the release of "Moana 2," which has sailed to extraordinary box office success this holiday weekend. The Polynesian-themed sequel stormed into theaters with a three-day haul of $135.5 million, making it the biggest domestic opening ever for a Disney animated film. The film’s triumphant five-day total reached a staggering $221 million, surpassing the previous record-holder, "Frozen II," which amassed $163.8 million in its extended opening weekend.
Beyond that, "Moana 2" has rewritten the Thanksgiving box office playbook. It seized the crown for the biggest Thanksgiving debut, the largest Thanksgiving weekend total, and the highest-grossing Thanksgiving Day with $28 million. Black Friday, too, saw "Moana 2" make history, pulling in a remarkable $54.5 million – a new record for the shopping frenzy day.
While Disney claims this is the biggest five-day opening of all time, surpassing even "The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s" $204.6 million, a technicality arises when comparing opening day figures. "The Lion King" remake holds the official record for a five-day opening with $243.2 million, but this total accounts for a Wednesday-Sunday release, while "Moana 2" benefited from a Friday-Tuesday window.
Regardless of the technical nuance, "Moana 2" is an undeniable box office triumph for Disney Animation Studios.
"But however you view it, Moana 2 is a major hit for Disney, and likely a huge relief for its storied animation studio after flops like Wish and Strange World," the article stated.
The film’s strong performance also extends beyond U.S. borders. Internationally, "Moana 2" garnered $165 million this weekend, pushing the global opening total to an impressive $386 million.
The animated sequel has made significant waves in international markets.
"Disney is claiming it as the highest-animated opening weekend of all time in [France]," according to the company. Over eighty million dollars were earned across various markets. France led the charge, contributing a remarkable $18.8 million, followed closely by the U.K. with $15.5 million. Other notable performances include Mexico ($11.1 million), Germany ($10.5 million), and Italy ($9.3 million).
"Moana 2" is not only a box office juggernaut but also a historic milestone for Disney Animation Studios. "Walt Disney Animation Studios recorded its best-ever launch across the Latin America region, as well as 30 individual markets worldwide, including France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico," according to the report.
This success arrives as a much-needed boost for the studio following the underwhelming performances of previous releases like "Wish" and "Strange World." "Moana 2" proves that Disney Animation Studios remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of animation, captivating audiences worldwide with its enchanting stories and mesmerizing visuals.
