Get ready, because Moana 2 has finally arrived! Walt Disney Animation's newest release is not only a hit with catchy tunes ('Can I Get A Chee Hoo' and 'Beyond' are already popular at Empire HQ), but it's also making waves at the box office. The adventures of Disney's Polynesian princess and her demigod friend Maui are proving to be a massive success.
Released just in time for Thanksgiving in the U.S. and then worldwide, the animated sequel by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller has grossed an impressive $386 million globally. With $221 million from domestic ticket sales alone, Moana 2 has surpassed Frozen II to become Disney's highest-grossing animated film opening. It earned almost as much in five days as the original Moana did in its entire U.S. theatrical run ($248.7 million).
Additionally, the movie holds the record for the highest five-day opening, Thanksgiving weekend, and Thanksgiving debut domestically. Internationally, it ranks as the third biggest opening for an animated film and a musical. The success of Moana 2 is part of a broader box office surge, with other films like Wicked and Gladiator II also performing well.
With Christmas approaching, these films show no signs of slowing down. The record-breaking success of movies like Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2 this summer, along with strong performances from non-sequels like Longlegs and The Wild Robot, indicate that audiences still love going to the movies. Hopefully, studios will take note and invest more in theatrical releases rather than streaming-first approaches.
For now, let's celebrate the success of Moana 2 and see how far it will go in the coming weeks. Can Disney achieve the highest-grossing animated film twice in one year? Only time will tell.
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