This Thanksgiving weekend marks a historic moment at the box office as “Moana 2” achieves a record-breaking $221 million in ticket sales, setting a new benchmark for the holiday season.
Expectations for “Moana 2” were high, and the film not only met but exceeded them by a significant margin. The five-day opening set a new Thanksgiving record, surpassing the previous best “Frozen 2,” which earned $125 million during its second week in 2019. Meanwhile, the movie’s international performance added another $165.3 million to its tally.
The success of “Moana 2” was complemented by the enduring appeal of “Wicked,” which amassed $117.5 million over the extended weekend. In just a fortnight, the globally beloved musical has reached a staggering $359.2 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation to date, unadjusted for inflation, overtaking the classic “Grease.”
Additionally, “Gladiator II” demonstrated resilience, seeing only a 44% drop from its debut weekend, contributing an impressive $44 million in its second weekend. Despite its hefty $250 million production budget, the movie has accumulated $320 million globally, showing promising prospects for profitability.
The convergence of these blockbuster films propelled the overall box office to over $400 million in Thanksgiving sales, setting a new industry record. This accomplishment offers a beacon of hope for an industry seeking recovery from recent challenges posed by the pandemic, work stoppages, and the rise of streaming services.
Michael O’Leary, head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, expressed optimism, stating that such successes illustrate the potential of having compelling, big-budget films with strong marketing backing. He noted, “We’re very optimistic that this weekend is the start of a full-on charge into the future.”
The simultaneous release of blockbusters like “Moana 2,” “Wicked,” and “Gladiator II” has shown that competition can benefit the film industry, contrary to the traditional strategy of staggering major releases to avoid clashes. This weekend’s triumph suggests a return to pre-pandemic movie-going levels, with a promising outlook for the rest of the year and into 2025.
The historic success of “Moana 2,” alongside “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” not only breaks box office records but also reinvigorates the cinema industry after challenging years. This proves the enduring appeal and power of theatrical releases in bringing audiences together for shared experiences.
Source: Apnews
