Moana 2 Sets New Box Office Milestone on Black Friday
Disney’s Moana 2 has made an unprecedented impact at the box office this Black Friday, earning a staggering $54.5 million across 4,200 theaters. This marks a new record for the highest Black Friday earnings ever, surpassing Frozen II‘s $34.1 million record from 2019. The film’s total earnings have now reached $140 million, easily breaking Frozen II‘s five-day holiday weekend record of $125 million, even without accounting for Saturday and Sunday grosses.
This record-breaking success highlights the enduring popularity of Disney’s animated family films. Despite mixed reviews, Moana 2 continues to capture the hearts of moviegoers, achieving an “A-” rating from CinemaScore. Originally conceived as a Disney+ series, the decision to rework it into a theatrical release has proven to be a smart move for the studio.
The Resurgence of Family Films at the Box Office
Moana 2’s success comes as a welcome turnaround for Walt Disney Animation, following the lackluster performances of Strange World and Wish in previous years. The film’s impressive showing reaffirms that family-friendly movies still have a significant pull in theaters. This is especially significant as the film industry continues to recover from a challenging period.
Other Major Releases Shine Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Alongside Moana 2, other films are also performing well at the box office. Universal’s Wicked, the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, earned $32 million on Black Friday. The film is projected to surpass $115 million over the five-day holiday period, pushing its domestic total to over $260 million by the end of the weekend. This performance places Wicked as the seventh-highest-grossing North American release of the year.
Similarly, Gladiator II, Paramount’s highly anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator, grossed $12.4 million on Black Friday and is expected to pass $100 million domestically by Saturday. Despite a significant $250 million production budget, the film is holding strong and could continue to perform well in the coming weeks.
Red One and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Also Benefit from Holiday Boost
Even Amazon MGM’s Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, has experienced a boost thanks to the strong theater turnout. The Christmas action film saw a 15% rise from the previous week, earning $4.8 million on Friday. Although its $250 million production budget remains a concern, Red One is on track to gross over $75 million during the five-day holiday period.
In addition, Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a holiday family film, brought in an estimated $1.3 million on Black Friday. With its projected total of over $32 million by Sunday, the film has proven to be a solid success against its modest $10 million production budget.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Holiday Box Office?
As we approach the end of the year, the holiday movie season looks to be a major success for theaters. Moana 2 is leading the charge, with other films like Wicked and Gladiator II continuing to perform well. The box office surge over the Thanksgiving weekend provides a hopeful outlook for the industry, which has faced challenges in recent years. With numerous highly anticipated films still to come this holiday season, moviegoers can expect even more exciting box office battles ahead.
Conclusion: A Strong End to the Year for Moviegoers and Studios Alike
The remarkable success of Moana 2 and other major films this holiday season signals a positive shift in the film industry. With high-quality family content continuing to draw in audiences, the future of movie-going looks promising. As the year wraps up, both studios and moviegoers can look forward to more thrilling cinematic experiences.
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