In its second weekend, “Moana 2” continues to dominate theaters, accumulating an impressive $600 million globally.
The animated sequel “Moana 2” has sustained its momentum, raking in $52 million over the weekend. This performance brings its domestic earnings to $300 million, outstripping the original film. On a global scale, the movie has amassed $600 million, setting a new record for post-Thanksgiving weekend earnings, surpassing “Frozen II’s” previous record of $35.2 million in 2019, as per studio estimates.
Initially envisioned as a series, “Moana 2” quickly ascended to become one of the highest-grossing movies this year, placing it among the top five releases. Alongside it, Disney boasts two other films in the year’s top five: “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Another major release, “Mufasa,” directed by Barry Jenkins, is anticipated in the coming weeks.
While “Moana 2” thrived, other releases like “Wicked” added $34.9 million, raising its domestic total to $320.5 million within three weeks, and $455.6 million worldwide. Furthermore, “Gladiator II” garnered $12.5 million, securing third place. According to Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore, these movies are propelling the box office toward an anticipated $8.5 billion total for the year. While last year the industry reached $9 billion, recovering from pre-pandemic levels which typically hit $11 billion remains challenging.
Newcomers struggled to gain traction, with “Y2K” and “The Order” debuting unimpressively. In contrast, the “Interstellar” re-release outperformed newcomers, earning $4.4 million. Director Christopher Nolan expressed delight at audience engagement with the IMAX presentations. Meanwhile, the Indian action film “Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2” led among new releases with $4.9 million, showcasing diverse cinematic interests this season.
Upcoming movie releases promise to further diversify box office offerings. New titles like “Kraven the Hunter” and “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” are set for release, along with limited screenings of awards contenders such as “Nickel Boys.”
“Moana 2’s” continued box office success highlights the film’s wide appeal and the robustness of animated features in the current market. As new films join the competition, the industry remains dynamic and exciting.
Source: Apnews
