Disney’s Moana 2 has shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film ever over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The highly anticipated sequel to the beloved Polynesian animated classic brought in an impressive $221 million USD over the five-day holiday period, far surpassing early projections of $135 million to $145 million.
The film’s debut dethroned previous Thanksgiving champions, including 2019’s Frozen II ($125 million USD) and 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($109 million USD). Moana 2 also set a new benchmark for Walt Disney Animation, marking its best three-day opening in history. The sequel now holds the record for the largest five-day debut ever, surpassing Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which dominated in 2023.
“This is a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to all the moviegoers and fans who’ve helped make this a record-breaking debut,” said Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman in a statement. The animated blockbuster competed against Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II during the holiday frame. Together, the three major releases generated approximately $422 million USD in ticket sales, with Wicked securing the No. 2 spot at $117.5 million USD over the same period.