box office records

Moana 2 Leads Box Office in Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Weekend

Does Motunui have turkeys? Photo: Disney

Moana 2 is going far, and bringing the rest of the box office along with it. After breaking a record for the Thanksgiving box office, the Disney sequel led the whole box office to break yet another record on Sunday.

Disney is thankful for your money

November 28, 2024: Yesterday was all about giving thanks, but Disney fans will still be saying “You’re welcome” to the big mouse all weekend after stuffing their wallets for five days straight. Deadline reports that Moana 2 has broken a new record for the Thanksgiving box office: the sequel animated film earned $28 million on Thursday, beating out the previous record holder Frozen 2 by almost double at $14.9 million. That definitely calls for a celebratory Chee Hoo. Wicked also beat out Olaf and co. with $16.9 million yesterday as well for a second Thanksgiving record. Moana 2 is still on track to earn at least $175 million for the five-day box office, with Wicked’s second weekend following nearby with an estimated $105 million. It’s only the start of Moana 2’s box office reign for the next few weeks.

How far we all go

December 1, 2024: After having the biggest Thanksgiving opening on record, Moana 2 led the box office to $420 million of sales from Wednesday to Sunday. That’s the biggest Thanksgiving weekend box office ever, per Variety. 2024’s Thanksgiving box office wrecks the previous record set in 2018 by Ralph Breaks the Internet, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Creed II. Those films made $315 million altogether.

Moana 2 brought in most of the $420 million, followed by Wicked and Gladiator II. Also bringing in some of that Thanksgiving dough were Red One and messiest Thanksgiving reunion ever, Conclave.

Moana 2 Tops Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office