As a longtime admirer of Disney animation and someone who has grown up with these movies shaping my childhood memories, I must say that “Moana 2” truly outshines its competition. The emotional rollercoaster it takes us on, from laughter to tears and back again, is unparalleled in today’s animated film landscape.
“Besides the usual ‘You’re welcome,’ theater owners might say that November has been exceptionally profitable for Disney, particularly with the success of ‘Moana 2.’ Instead of being relegated to a Disney+ sequel, the movie has generated enormous revenue for Disney and cinemas nationwide during the Thanksgiving weekend. In fact, it has emerged as one of Disney’s strongest hits since ‘Inside Out 2,’ which was an enormous blockbuster this past summer and broke the company’s box office slump.
What exactly captivated viewers about Moana’s (Auli’i Cravalho) journey in “Moana 2”? Was it the character’s thoughtful growth during her sequel that drew people in? Or was it the allure of reconnecting with her family, friends, and the charming demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson)? Perhaps the catchy collection of tunes played a role. Could it be that “Moana 2” became so popular because it’s a family-friendly film released during the holiday season? Here’s why “Moana 2” was such a massive hit, delivering a torrent of joy and musical ingenuity to families everywhere.
What did Moana 2 make at the box office?
As the holiday drew near, it was evident that “Moana 2” would be a resounding success from its very debut. Pre-sales were almost matching those of “Inside Out 2” earlier in the year, accumulating an impressive $135 million on their first day of release. True to form, these figures foretold a successful outcome, with the sequel amassing a colossal box office haul during the Thanksgiving weekend.
The movie, titled “Moana 2,” swiftly surpassed preview records for a Thanksgiving Tuesday release at Disney, generating $13.8 million on its first day alone. This figure slightly exceeded the earnings of “Inside Out 2” during its previews, which made $13 million. This early success suggests that “Moana 2” is poised to outperform “Inside Out 2” and potentially become Disney’s top-grossing animated film of the year.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the box office saw “Moana 2” continue to thrive, raking in a staggering $225.2 million domestically from Wednesday through Sunday. The film’s earnings were as follows: $57.5 million on Wednesday, $28 million on Thursday, $54.5 million on Friday, $50.5 million on Saturday, and $30.5 million on Sunday. This incredible performance has made “Moana 2” the holder of the record for the biggest domestic opening weekend ever. When paired with the earnings from “Gladiator II” and “Wicked,” it set a new standard for the largest Thanksgiving weekend box office in history. Internationally, it grossed $163.8 million, leading to an astounding global total. The worldwide opening of “Moana 2” stands at $389 million, surpassing the previous record of $377 million set by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in its opening weekend. With just four more weeks, “Moana 2” is close to surpassing the billion-dollar total achieved by “Inside Out 2” during its theatrical run.
Disney and the holidays are always an unbeatable combination
Every holiday season, Disney is known for releasing popular family films that earn significant revenue, and they’ve dominated the box office during Thanksgiving weekends specifically for quite some time. Films such as “Frozen,” “Toy Story 2,” “Tangled,” “Coco,” and the original “Moana” all set records for earnings. In fact, ten out of the top ten highest-grossing film openings during this season are Disney films. It’s no surprise that a sequel to “Moana” is also expected to perform well, given that Disney movies tend to bring in substantial profits when families gather together.
It’s plausible that the positive reception as a family film significantly boosted “Moana 2″‘s success. However, it remains unclear how much of its triumph is due to its release on Thanksgiving weekend, a time when people might seek entertainment to combat post-holiday lethargy. At this stage, it’s uncertain, but the appeal of Moana has sparked intense enthusiasm, creating a wave of new fans among younger audiences.
Kid love Moana (and Disney knows it)
The “Toy Story” series could be seen as the trailblazers for overcoming audience skepticism towards sequels, but a significant portion of that success can be attributed to its captivating ensemble of characters. On the other hand, Moana and Maui have garnered iconic status too; they back up this claim with impressive viewership on streaming platforms and substantial box office earnings.
To wit: the first movie movie made just nearly $650 million at the worldwide box office. When the film hit Disney+, it quickly became the most popular offering on the entire platform, with fans streaming more than 80 billion minutes of the movie since its debut. That makes it Disney+’s most popular streaming movie of all time and is the sum equivalent of watching “Moana” all the way through from start to finish 748 million times. The end result? All kinds of kids from all over the world love Moana and rushed to theaters when her new movie came out. There’s a reason why audiences aren’t a hundred percent in approval of the new “Moana” live-action movie; they like the animated universe as it is.
In a clever homage to Moana’s widespread appeal among young children, the sequel subtly incorporates an inside joke: The “Moana-Bes,” a group of girls who emulate Moana in appearance and even have a pet pig similar to Pua but with a surlier demeanor. This wink is directed at all the girls who admire Moana due to her success on stage and streaming platforms. Interestingly, two out of three “Moana-Bes” are voiced by Dwayne Johnson’s daughters, adding an additional familial touch to the storyline.
The reviews were stellar
In summary, the majority of critics have given a favorable review to the sequel, despite some criticism that it repeats too much from the original “Moana.” With over 60% of Rotten Tomatoes’ certified critics approving the film, it suggests that the movie could be worth watching. Interestingly, audience feedback is more positive, with an 87% approval rating so far, indicating that people who have seen it enjoy it more than the critics do. Moreover, the CinemaScore rating for the film is an A-, implying that positive word of mouth may keep boosting its popularity in the coming weeks.
The film undeniably profited from the positive reactions both from audiences and critics. The promotional strategy for “Moana 2” had many “Moana” and Disney enthusiasts criticizing it as weak at best and uninspiring at worst, particularly when contrasted with the direct musical family rival “Wicked,” which also surpassed box office predictions. However, these reviews and word-of-mouth buzz acted as a boost, evidently helping “Moana 2” achieve its impressive numbers.
A fresh musical direction separates it from the original Moana
In the movie “Moana”, there were many catchy songs designed for singing along, like “You’re Welcome”, which featured Maui, and “How Far I’ll Go”, Moana’s personal anthem. These melodies boast lyrics penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a renowned lyricist and Broadway legend. However, this time around, Disney decided to work with new talent for the lyrics, while maintaining composers Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, who created the music for the initial film. The new lyricists are Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, who gained popularity through TikTok and their “What if Bridgerton was a Musical?” video series.
The duo’s youthful perspective adds a refreshing twist to the world of Moana, with songs like “Get Lost” sounding ready for Motown and “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” being Maui’s standout number. Each song feels fresh, innovative, and vibrant in a unique manner compared to Miranda’s previous work. The music for Moana 2 contributes significantly to its distinct identity, making it unlike the original Moana and enhancing the success of the sequel.
Kids who grew up with Moana are bringing their kids to the theaters
Not just little kids have preserved the essence of “Moana”. Those who watched the original film in 2016 are now adults or young teenagers, and they’re eagerly anticipating “Moana 2” for its nostalgic appeal. They may still hold a special connection to the character, but some might also be introducing their own kids to “Moana 2”. Whether it’s about sharing memories with family members or reuniting with old friends, they’re excited to reminisce about the past while witnessing Moana’s growth parallel to their own.
In the time between the first and second Moana movie, Moana has grown into a mature adult. No longer a sixteen-year-old girl, she now shares the leadership role of her people as a co-chieftain and a Wayfinder. This transformation is evident when you compare her appearance in “Moana 2” to how she looked in the original film. The movie skillfully navigates these changes and focuses on the challenges that come with being an adult, especially when power is placed in your hands. This aspect of the story demonstrates the movie’s commitment to building upon what made “Moana” great while still taking risks and pushing boundaries in other parts of the narrative. The result is a coming-of-age story that resonates deeply with audiences, encouraging Moana’s fans to return for this new journey.
New characters freshen up the plot…
In “Moana 2,” the story ventures into unexplored waters, quite literally. This isn’t just an adventure for Moana, Heihei, Maui, and Pui this time around. A fresh set of characters has been introduced to join Moana on her voyage, forming her crew. These newcomers include Moni (Hualālai Chung), a character with an affection for Maui, Kele (David Fane), a farmer who dreams of relaxation, and Loto (Rose Matafeo), a clever artisan. Despite their differences in age, size, and ambitions, they all add unique elements to the sequel’s plot. They aid Moana in ways that Maui couldn’t, and though her dearest companion ends up being the one who saves her life in the end, it is these new friends who help Moana progress further than she would have without them.
Additionally, it’s not just these new characters that stand out. The villainous Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) offers yet another intricate antagonist for Moana to conquer. At the same time, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), her mischievous younger sister, brings a fresh, comedic angle to Moana’s island escapades. Together, they elevate this animated sequel beyond a simple rehash.
…But the voice cast kept things familiar
Despite introducing new characters for “Moana 2”, there’s a strong sense of nostalgia as well. Although Disney has taken bold steps with the music and aspects of Moana’s journey, certain elements have remained constant – notably, many voices from the original cast. Joining Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, and Auli’i Cravalho are familiar faces like Temuera Morrison as Moana’s father, Tui; Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Moana’s mother; and Rachel House as Tala, Moana’s deceased grandmother, now transformed into a giant manta ray. The main cast of the first movie have all returned to reprise their roles, and Temuera Morrison even sings his own parts in “Moana 2”, unlike in the original production.
This setup offers a familiar, high-quality feel that’s far from replacing Dan Castellaneta for Robin Williams as Genie in low-budget Disney sequels. Instead, it probably attracted viewers to cinemas, as originality is always preferred.
Moana’s little sister brought a whole new generation to the Moana craze
Could a whole new breed of Wayfinders rise from the sequel of “Moana,” with the possibility being my little sister Simea stepping into the spotlight? As Moana gains brand-new powers following her death and resurrection by ancestors in “Moana 2,” it appears that the future of this franchise could very well be shaped around the energetic spirit of Simea, who shows signs of being a born adventurer and more playful than I am. Given Disney’s affinity for sister stories — as they often create tales featuring two princesses instead of one — it’s no surprise that much of “Moana 2” focuses on the bond between Moana and Simea. As Simea matures throughout “Moana 2,” she develops her own unique personality, which might pave the way for her to embark on her own adventures if a potential “Moana 3” ever materializes.
A significant portion of the film’s reviews and one promotional trailer primarily highlight Simea. It’s plausible that some children went to watch the movie due to her familiar size, as she stands against evil forces. This character undeniably fosters the expansion of the franchise and significantly benefits “Moana 2.
Moana 2 Succeeded in spite of weak marketing from Disney
One common criticism leveled at “Moana 2” by Disney enthusiasts is that its marketing was minimal compared to other Disney productions. This seems astonishing for a Disney movie, but when put side-by-side with the extensive promotional campaign for “Wicked,” which debuted a week prior, it appears quite accurate.
In contrast to a massive advertising campaign promoting Moana as the new spokesperson for Lunchables or Hertz Rent-A-Cars, there were just a few commercials, online ads, and magazine interviews. Yet, the success at the box office of “Moana 2” still managed to surprise many. This suggests that audiences don’t necessarily require a grand press tour with Dwayne Johnson in his full movie star glory to flock to the theaters. Instead, it appears that the audience has a strong faith in Disney and the Moana brand as a whole.
Absolutely, the film isn’t just any indie production that happened to become popular; it’s a Disney production, which brings its own set of advantages. However, it’s still a remarkable piece of work, regardless of its origins.
Moana 2 wasn’t afraid to make audiences cry and laugh – unlike the competition
How did “Moana 2” stand out in theaters against films like “Wicked” and “Gladiator”? Any true Disney enthusiast recognizes that Disney’s best movies are skilled at tugging at your heartstrings, often following moments of laughter. “Moana 2” maintains this legacy by offering a host of comedic escapades with Moana and her team, while also knowing when to elicit tears from the audience. Similar to classic Disney films, it doesn’t shy away from giving young viewers a fright, as demonstrated through Moana’s brush with death and her crew becoming stranded on an island for part of the movie.
The sequel is filled with the classic emotional resonance found in Disney movies, such as when Tala lends a hand to Moana and her team, or the part where an ancestor illuminates their future path. This lack of emotional barriers is likely what drew viewers to the cinemas; Disney enthusiasts know that if they want to experience a full range of emotions while watching a film, they should opt for a Disney production, and “Moana 2” is no exception. Compared to movies like “Gladiator II,” it was a strong choice, and although “Wicked” may be skilled at eliciting feelings, no one stirs up the tears and laughter quite like Disney.
The mystery of Matangi pulled in new viewers
In the “Moana” series, both films have introduced complex villainesses who aren’t inherently evil but rather misunderstood. The anticipation for the sequel’s main antagonist, or the “big bad,” is one of the reasons audiences are flocking to cinemas. The original film introduced Te Fiti, a character whose broken heart was central to the story, and “Moana 2” introduces Matangi, who serves as an intermediary for the more malicious Nalo. Unlike Te Fiti, who was secretly a symbol of kindness, Matangi is unwilling to be involved in Nalo’s wrongdoings. She assists Moana and Maui only because she wants no part in the villainy that has been imposed upon her. This puts her at odds with both Nalo and Tamatoa, creating an intriguing dynamic for further exploration.
Although Matangi seems absent from the promotions of “Moana 2”, her compelling villain character might have contributed to some word-of-mouth purchases following its release on Tuesday. Her unique portrayal of a Disney villain, a role that typically lacks complexity in such franchises, has resonated strongly with audiences. Given the box office success of “Moana 2”, it’s likely we’ll see more development for all three characters if a third installment, although not yet officially greenlit, is eventually produced.
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2024-12-03 00:00