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Thanksgiving Box Office: Moana 2 and Wicked Set New Records

Moana 2 and Wicked take the box office by storm this Thanksgiving with record-breaking openings, captivating audiences and reimagining box office expectations.

An engaging photo captures the vibrant atmosphere of a packed movie theater lobby adorned with promotional posters for Moana 2 and Wicked. The image showcases a diverse crowd of excited moviegoers, families, and friends, eagerly chatting and laughing while holding popcorn and drink cups. The dynamic lighting enhances the festive feel, while whimsical decorations inspired by both films create an immersive experience, inviting viewers into the world of cinematic storytelling. This visual perfectly encapsulates the excitement around the record-breaking box office performances of these two films.

Thanksgiving Box Office: Moana 2 and Wicked Set New Records

Thanksgiving weekend 2024 has proven to be a historic moment for the film industry as Disney's Moana 2 and Universal's Wicked have not only captivated audiences but also shattered box office records. These two highly anticipated films surged past previous benchmarks, indicating a resurgence in theatrical attendance post-pandemic.

Moana 2: A Record-Breaking Debut

Disney's Moana 2 garnered an astonishing $221 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday, setting a new record for the highest opening ever during this period. It surpassed the previous records held by Frozen II ($125 million) and Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($109 million) with ease. Notably, this is now the biggest five-day debut in film history, even eclipsing the previous leader, The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($205.6 million).

Record Comparisons

  • Old Record Holders:
    • Frozen II: $125 million
    • Hunger Games: Catching Fire: $109 million
    • The Super Mario Bros. Movie: $205.6 million (three-day)

With a strong three-day tally of $135.5 million, Moana 2 also positions itself as the best start for Walt Disney Animation, surpassing the previous record set by Frozen II ($130.2 million). Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, expressed gratitude towards the audience for their overwhelming support, marking this as a historic achievement.

Global Reception

Internationally, Moana 2 opened ahead of expectations with $165 million, bringing its global tally to $386.3 million. This extensive success follows other significant Disney releases in 2024 such as Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, marking a robust comeback for Disney after a challenging 2023.

Wicked: Domestic Box Office King

Meanwhile, Wicked: Part One, has established itself as the highest-grossing movie of all time based on a Broadway musical, achieving a domestic box office revenue of $262 million. This success goes beyond its opening weekend, as the film continues to captivate audiences with standout performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Key Achievements of Wicked

  • Highest grossing movie based on a Broadway musical in the U.S.
  • Record Opening Weekend: Grossed $112.5 million (highest for a musical)
  • Global Earnings: Surpassing $358 million so far.

Despite its lengthy runtime of two hours and 40 minutes, Wicked has thrived alongside Moana 2, appealing predominantly to female demographics, with over 70% of its audience being women.

The Statistics

  1. Domestic Earnings:
    • Wicked: $262 million (projected)
    • Surpassed Grease (1978) lifetime revenue of $191 million
  2. Worldwide Earnings:
    • Wicked: $358 million
    • Moana 2: $386 million

The coexistence of these two films has revitalized the box office, attracting a blended audience looking for family-friendly and musical options during the holiday period.

Other Competitors

In addition to these two powerhouses, Gladiator II continues to perform solidly with $30.7 million over the traditional weekend, adding to its global total of $320 million. Other holiday entries like Red One, starring The Rock, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever also contributed to the box office results, showcasing a diverse array of genres appealing to different audience segments.

Future Prospects for Moana and Wicked

Given the phenomenal success of Moana 2 and Wicked, the industry anticipates that these films will lead to further expansions of their respective franchises. Disney is reportedly gearing up for a live-action adaptation of the original Moana, which is expected to make waves as well, with potential tie-ins and merchandising likely to follow.

Conclusion

This Thanksgiving, audiences have demonstrated a renewed appetite for cinema, as Moana 2 and Wicked not only broke records but also cemented their places in box office history. This moment marks a pivotal shift in viewer behavior with the resurgence of theatrical attendance, setting an optimistic tone for the future of film.

With the holidays upon us, there’s no doubt that Moana 2 and Wicked will continue to pull in audiences, reminding the industry of the magic of cinema.

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