Setting out on its box office voyage, “Moana 2” amassed a whopping $13.8 million in preview screenings on Tuesday. This record-breaking figure places “Moana 2” as the animated film with the largest preview haul in Disney Animation’s history. Furthermore, it has earned the title of the most lucrative pre-Thanksgiving preview and the second-best preview earnings of any animated feature.
Comparatively, other animation giants from Disney have also boasted impressive figures. For instance, “Inside Out 2” released in June, garnered $13 million in Thursday previews before securing $154 million in its three-day debut. In 2019, “Toy Story 4” pulled in $12 million in Thursday previews and subsequently launched to $121 million over three days. Similarly, “Frozen II” from the same year, earned $8.5 million in Thursday previews before reaching $130 million over the Thanksgiving weekend. However, the record for the largest debut for an animated film is still held by Pixar’s 2018 sequel, “Incredibles 2,” which generated $18.5 million in Thursday previews before soaring to a staggering $183 million over the weekend.
The preview screenings of “Moana 2” kicked off at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The official opening of Disney’s musical sequel is on Wednesday, and it’s projected to rake in between $135 million to $145 million in its first five days in cinemas. With these ticket sales, “Moana 2” is poised to set a new record for the largest Thanksgiving earnings, surpassing “Frozen II” ($125 million over five days) and 2013’s “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” ($109 million over five days).
Both the studio and cinema owners are expressing their gratitude for the potential windfall that “Moana 2” promises to deliver. Initially developed as a television show for Disney+, the sequel to the Polynesian adventure was later revamped into a full-length feature film.
The reviews have been somewhat mixed, with a 67% average on Rotten Tomatoes. However, critical reviews don’t always impact the attendance for family-friendly films. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson are back to lend their voices to the main characters – the non-princess heroine, Moana, and the tattooed demigod Maui. The sequel sees Moana embarking on a journey far into the ocean to locate a concealed island and lift a curse. Unfortunately, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote popular songs such as “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” for the first film, did not return for the sequel. Instead, songwriting responsibilities were handed over to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the duo behind “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.”
With other big releases like “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” also attracting large audiences over the holiday period, this Thanksgiving is set to be one of the highest-grossing in recent history.
On Tuesday, “Wicked” added a substantial $16.6 million to its earnings. This big-budget musical from Universal, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is projected to generate $60 million over the traditional weekend (which would be roughly a 50% drop from its record $114 million debut) and a minimum of $80 million over five days. To date, it has produced $144.9 million domestically and $195 million worldwide.
“Gladiator II” also fared well on Tuesday, collecting $6.6 million. Paramount’s even more ambitious project is expected to add $33 million from North American cinemas over the traditional weekend (a 44% decrease from its $55.5 million debut) and $45 million between Wednesday and Sunday. The sequel to the 2000 film “Gladiator” has so far grossed $67.2 million domestically and $232 million across the globe.
FAQs
Q: When is the official release of “Moana 2”?
A: The official release of “Moana 2” is on Wednesday.
Q: Who are the voice actors reprising their roles in “Moana 2”?
A: Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson are reprising their voice roles in “Moana 2”.
Q: How much is “Moana 2” expected to earn in its first five days in theaters?
A: “Moana 2” is estimated to earn between $135 million to $145 million over its first five days in theaters.
Q: Who are the songwriters for “Moana 2”?
A: The songwriting duties for “Moana 2” were handed over to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.
Credit: variety.com
