The Walt Disney Co.’s animated blockbuster Moana 2 continued its box office dominance in its second weekend, grossing an impressive $52 million domestically, according to studio estimates released Sunday. This brings its domestic total to $300 million and its global earnings to a staggering $600 million, surpassing the original film’s lifetime earnings.
Disney Store Official Princess Classic Doll (Moana)
The sequel shattered the post-Thanksgiving weekend box office record, previously held by Frozen II, which earned $35.2 million in 2019. Originally planned as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 has cemented its place among the top five highest-grossing films of the year. Disney now boasts three of this year’s top five films, with Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine also among the elite group. The studio’s year isn’t over yet, with Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa set for release on December 20.
Disney Moana 2 Ultimate Sticker Book
Thanksgiving Holdovers Dominate
Other Thanksgiving blockbusters maintained strong performances. Universal’s Wicked claimed the second spot, adding $34.9 million domestically to bring its three-week total to $320.5 million. The film has grossed $455.6 million worldwide. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II took third place, earning $12.5 million, followed by Amazon’s Red One with $7 million.
“These holdovers are creating the momentum to push the 2023 box office towards an $8.5 billion finish,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
While pre-pandemic annual box office totals often surpassed $11 billion, the industry has struggled to recover fully. Last year’s total reached just over $9 billion. However, the recent surge in ticket sales has narrowed the gap compared to last year, boosting optimism in the industry.
Disney Store Official Princess Story Doll (Moana)
Newcomers Struggle for Attention
Despite a diverse array of new releases, none managed to challenge the heavy hitters. A24’s horror-comedy Y2K earned $2.1 million, while Jude Law’s crime thriller The Order grossed only $878,000. Paramount’s 10th-anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, however, outshone both, earning $4.4 million from just 165 theaters.
IMAX screenings of Interstellar in 70mm were completely sold out, demonstrating the film’s enduring appeal. “I was thrilled so many moviegoers experienced the original IMAX presentation of Interstellar this weekend,” Nolan said in a statement.
The biggest new release, Indian action film Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2, debuted with $4.9 million. Anime fans contributed $2.4 million to Sony and Crunchyroll’s Solo Leveling – ReAwakening, while Fathom’s concert film A Drummer Boy Christmas earned $2.1 million.
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Diverse Offerings Reflect Audience Tastes
“It’s a really diverse marketplace,” noted Dergarabedian. “There’s event cinema, international films, and even re-releases—all showcasing the eclectic lineup in theaters.”
Upcoming Releases
Theatergoers can look forward to more major releases next weekend. Sony’s Kraven the Hunter and the animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will debut in wide release. Awards hopefuls Nickel Boys and September 5 are set to open in limited theaters.
Weekend Box Office Estimates (Nov. 30–Dec. 3)
- Moana 2: $52 million
- Wicked: $34.9 million
- Gladiator II: $12.5 million
- Red One: $7 million
- Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2: $4.9 million
- Interstellar (Re-release): $4.4 million
- Solo Leveling – ReAwakening: $2.4 million
- Y2K: $2.1 million
- A Drummer Boy Christmas: $2.1 million
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: $1.5 million
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