‘Moana 2’ on track to break box office records this Thanksgiving weekend

On By Littum

Upper line

A Disney movie that was never intended to hit the big screen is on track to break records over the Thanksgiving release weekend after scoring the best preview day ever for a Disney animated movie and reportedly grossing an additional 28 million dollars on Thanksgiving Day.

Key facts

“Moana 2,” originally envisioned as a Disney+ series before being developed as a feature film, was the top-grossing holiday movie and is now on track to earn at least $175 million over the five-day holiday weekend, Black reported.

That figure would make it the highest-grossing Thanksgiving release of all time, besting both “Frozen II” ($125 million) and “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” ($109 million).

The viral musical sensation “Wicked,” which opened over a week ago, earned an impressive $16.9 million on Thanksgiving and “Gladiator II” earned $6.7 million.

“Wicked,” the first in a two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is ranked as the 63rd biggest opening weekend of all time by Box Office Mojo with $112.5 million.

The first part of “Wicked” is the best opening weekend ever for a film based on a Broadway musical and one of the biggest openings for a big screen musical.

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big number

13.8 million dollars. That’s how much “Moana 2” grossed in previews, the biggest pre-Thanksgiving weekend preview ever and the biggest preview gross for a Disney Animation film.

Surprising facts

“Moana” was it most streamed movies last year in the US, with 11.6 billion minutes streamed.

Key

Of the three films dominating the box office, “Evil“is by far the highest rated by critics with a 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been called “The most entertaining film of the year and the most dazzling live-action Hollywood musical since ‘Chicago’.” “Gladiator II” has a critics score of 71%, and reviewers have generally called it a redundant rehash of its predecessor – but nonetheless “fun to watch.” “Moana 2”, despite its impressive box office, has fallen out of favor, with a critics score of 65% on Rotten Tomatoes, and some reviewers calling it “mediocre“and one”successor stuck in a rut.”

Further reading

Forbes‘Moana 2’ breaks Disney record in previews, expected to top ‘Frozen 2’ Thanksgiving releaseBy Mary Whitfill Roeloffs
Forbes‘Moana 2’ review falls far, far short of the originalBy Paul TassiForbesDoes ‘Moana 2’ have a post-credits scene? Why you should stay putBy Monica Mercury