Moana 2 just surfed into theaters and wrecked the box office harder than Maui smashed his hook. The sequel opened with a domestic 5-day debut of $221 million—yes, you read that right, TWO-HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Somebody at Disney is definitely popping champagne in their Moana-themed jammies.
This cinematic tsunami didn’t just break records; it obliterated them. It snagged the title for:
– Biggest 5-day opening of all time (take that, Mario and your mushrooms).
– Biggest Thanksgiving weekend in history, both 3-day and 5-day (Frozen who? Exactly).
– Biggest Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday ever. Basically, the movie left no holiday safe from its dominance.
Globally, Moana and Maui’s latest adventure sailed past $386 million in just a weekend. That’s the second-biggest global debut of 2024, proving that people worldwide still can’t resist a Polynesian princess, a cheeky demigod, and some catchy tunes.
What’s the Plot?
Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne “The Rock Who Sings” Johnson are back as Moana and Maui, embarking on a brand-new adventure three years after the events of the first film. (Spoiler: Maui still can’t stop bragging about himself, and Moana is still the ocean’s favorite child.)
Disney’s Reaction: Giddy as Hei Hei on a Sugar High
“Moana 2 crushed even our wildest expectations,” Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman said while probably wearing a lei and sipping a piña colada. He praised the creative team, stars, and new music, adding, “This is a moment to celebrate!” We’re guessing he did exactly that with a conga line through the Disney offices.
The Numbers That’ll Make You Say, “What Can’t They Do?”
Domestic Records:
– Biggest 5-day opening ever: Bye, Super Mario Bros.! Hope you packed a lunch for second place.
– Thanksgiving weekend domination: $221 million in 5 days? Frozen 2 wishes it could pull those numbers.
– $28 million on Thanksgiving Day: Turkey, pie, and Moana = the holy trinity.
– $54.5 million on Black Friday: Shoppers were like, “Skip the mall, let’s sail to the theater!”
– Biggest debut ever for Walt Disney Animation Studios: Yeah, it even dunked on Frozen.
International Flex:
– France went bananas, giving Moana 2 the biggest animated opening ever.
– Italy and Brazil said, “Second-biggest animated weekend? Fine, but we’re still obsessed!”
– Latin America collectively yelled, “We love you, Moana!” breaking records in nearly 30 countries.
Disney’s Triple Crown Year
2024 is officially the Year of Disney. With Moana 2, Deadpool & Wolverine ($211M), and Inside Out 2 ($155M) all pulling insane numbers, the House of Mouse basically owns the box office.
If you haven’t seen Moana 2, what are you waiting for? The ocean’s calling, and apparently, so are record-breaking ticket sales. 🌊
