Auliʻi Cravalho lends her voice to the titular character in Disney Animation’s “Moana 2,” a film that led a record-breaking Thanksgiving box office weekend. The combined offerings of Disney’s “Moana 2,” Universal’s “Wicked,” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II” drove an unprecedented $420 million in ticket sales over the five-day holiday period, making it the biggest Thanksgiving box office haul ever.
“Moana 2” exceeded expectations by grossing $221 million, far surpassing the initial forecast of $100 million and breaking the Thanksgiving weekend record previously held by “Frozen II” with $125 million. “Wicked” continued its impressive run, earning $117.5 million over the holiday, marking it as the highest-grossing domestic Broadway adaptation. Its global earnings stand at $359.2 million within ten days of release. Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” contributed $44 million to the weekend total, with domestic figures at $111.2 million and global earnings reaching $320 million.
Industry analysts highlight this weekend as a pivotal moment for the film industry, potentially revitalizing theaters after a challenging post-summer period. With a performance not seen since 2019, this Thanksgiving weekend underscored moviegoing’s cultural significance.
According to Comscore data, this robust performance reduced the year-to-date box office deficit significantly. The earlier gap of 11% between 2024 and the previous year has now narrowed to 6.4%. This surge is seen as crucial, particularly as the 2024 box office faced setbacks due to earlier labor strikes in Hollywood that delayed numerous major releases.
Overall, this historic box office feat emphasizes the enduring appeal and cultural impact of cinematic experiences, even as the industry navigates past challenges.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/01/moana-2-and-wicked-fuel-biggest-thanksgiving-box-office-ever.html
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