Moana 2 Sets All-Time High at Domestic Box Office
Disney’s fantasy musical Moana 2 is on track to break numerous records at the domestic box office, with a projected five-day debut of $215 million to $220 million. This would shatter the current record for the biggest five-day debut, previously held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and become the top Thanksgiving opening and earner of all time, surpassing Frozen and Frozen II.
The movie is coming in well ahead of expectations, with a global total of $192.7 million through Friday, including $140 million domestically and $52.7 million overseas. The family-friendly film is expected to become the top Broadway musical adaptation of all time domestically, passing up Grease, and will boast the biggest five-day debut in history.
Wicked, another highly anticipated film, is also performing well, with a projected five-day gross of $118.4 million and a domestic total of $263 million through Sunday. Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott, is expected to carve up a pleasing $45 million for the five days and nearly $400 million globally.
Moana 2, which features new songs from Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, follows Moana as she embarks on an unexpected adventure in long-lost waters after receiving a call from her ancestors. The film reunites voice stars Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as demigod Maui.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the movie is garnering strong exits and an audience score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s success is a testament to the power of movies with broad appeal, and it is expected to continue to perform well over the holiday weekend.