Disney’s Moana 2 has opened fantastic, shattering box office records and becoming a global sensation since its Thanksgiving weekend release. The widely anticipated sequel exceeded expectations, setting new records in domestic and foreign markets.
Over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend in the United States, the animated film grossed a record-breaking $221 million. This is the largest five-day domestic opening, breaking the previous record set by The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In addition, the film nearly doubled the Thanksgiving Day revenues of Disney’s Frozen 2.
Moana 2 has grossed an amazing $386 million worldwide. This marks the second-largest global opening of the year, after only Deadpool and Wolverine, and the third-highest debut for an animated film in history. Its performance in China was particularly noteworthy, where it debuted in second place with $6.6 million, despite opposition from local films.
Disney’s enormous marketing efforts contributed significantly to the film’s success. The studio spent over $100 million on a global campaign, collaborating with brands such as Hawaiian Airlines, Verizon, Oral-B, and Minecraft. These efforts resulted in increased ticket sales, with the film surpassing Fandango’s single-day presale record in October.
However, the critical response has been lackluster. The film has a 65% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, a substantial dip from the original Moana’s 95% rating. Nonetheless, viewers have responded enthusiastically, with an 87% audience score suggesting high viewing enjoyment.
Interestingly, Moana 2 was originally slated for a Disney+ streaming release but was later moved to theaters. This move has paid off since the film has proven to be a huge box-office success.
In China, Moana 2 faced heavy opposition from Her Story. This local comedy-drama topped the charts for the second weekend. The Chinese film grossed RMB 140.9 million ($19.8 million), demonstrating the success of homegrown films alongside foreign hits.
As the Christmas season progresses, Moana 2 demonstrates Disney’s ability to create animated pictures that fascinate fans worldwide. Its record-breaking premiere solidifies the sequel’s status as a significant success and demonstrates the studio’s global reach.