‘Moana 2’ Overtakes ‘Super Mario Bros.’ To Break Major Box Office Record

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As a lifelong Disney fan, I must say that the record-breaking success of Moana 2 over Thanksgiving weekend has left me absolutely spellbound! Growing up with the original Moana and Maui, it’s been a delight to witness their animated adventure unfold on the big screen once more.

As a cinephile, I was left in awe during the Thanksgiving holiday when I witnessed Moana 2 shatter the opening weekend record set by the Super Mario Bros. Movie. The electrifying duo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho delivered an unforgettable Disney sequel that dominated the box office, raking in an estimated $221 million domestically (as reported by The Numbers). This staggering figure surpassed the previous five-day record held by the 2023 video game adaptation, starring Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, which had amassed $204.6 million.

Making its way to the top box office spot over the weekend, “Moana 2” not only claimed the number one position but also broke several other records. Excited fans flocked to cinemas to witness Moana (Cravalho) and Maui’s (Johnson) exciting animated journey unfold on the big screen. During this run, Disney’s sequel achieved an unprecedented Black Friday performance by earning a staggering $54.5 million on November 29th alone. Additionally, “Moana 2” boasted the highest opening weekend of the fall movie season, surpassing “Wicked’s” $112.5 million from last weekend (Nov. 22-24).

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the combined earnings of movies like Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II, along with all other releases, set a new record for highest-grossing five-day periods of all time, raking in an impressive $420 million. Additionally, this animated adventure led by Johnson and Cravalho not only became the top-earning debut of 2024 but surpassed the July earnings of Deadpool & Wolverine by a significant margin. However, it’s important to highlight that Deadpool 3 achieved this milestone in just three days, whereas Moana 2 required five days to break the record.

‘Moana 2’ Helps Perpetuate a “National Phenomenon”

On weekends, “Moana 2” has become the top-grossing film, igniting a revitalization for the fall movie season that was previously lacking in ticket sales. The arrivals of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” last weekend have added excitement to cinema visits, significantly boosting the financial health of the season. However, it’s the staggering $221 million debut of “Moana 2” that has left one prominent movie executive in awe. Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Theatres, expressed his sentiments on his social media platform:

This weekend, news outlets are sharing that Americans are flocking to cinemas to watch Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II, as well as lesser-known films like Red One, Conclave, and Juror #2. Theaters are buzzing with an array of appealing movies. Don’t miss out on being a part of this national trend! Head over to AMC to catch a movie this weekend!

2024 has seen a disappointing number of box office failures, and the autumn film season has been underwhelming at best. However, movies such as “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, “Wicked”, “Gladiator II”, and “Moana 2” have brought some much-needed excitement to September and November. Regrettably, these films’ success may represent the peak of cinema-going for the year, as the remaining titles are unlikely to match the abundance of quality found over the Thanksgiving weekend.

In early December, a few movies that don’t seem particularly promising, such as Amy Adams’ film “Nightbitch”, will be released. However, none of these are expected to unseat the current leaders like “Moana 2”, “Wicked”, and “Gladiator II” in their box office rankings. For those wanting a cinematic holiday experience, there are some decent films arriving later in December, including “Mufasa: The Lion King”, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”, “Nosferatu”, and the critically acclaimed Bob Dylan biography “A Complete Unknown”. However, with these releases, it seems that 2024 may have reached its cinematic pinnacle already.

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2024-12-02 16:32