On Tuesday night, Moana 2 set records for Walt Disney Animation Studios as it had the biggest haul for a preview. The animated sequel brought in $13.8 million. Not only was the best preview for Disney Animation, but it also biggest pre-Thanksgiving preview take and the second-best preview for an animated film.
This solid opening comes after Pixar’s Inside Out 2 brought in $13 million on its previews on a Thursday night. It would go on to bring in $154 million during its three-day debut. In 2019, Toy Story 4 brought in $12 million for its Thursday previews before making $121 million over its three-day opening weekend. In 2019, Frozen II brought in $8.5 million for its Thursday previews before hauling in $130 million over the weekend ahead of Thanksgiving. The top spot for an animated film goes to Pixar’s Incredibles 2 in 2018. It brought in $18.5 million for its Thursday previews and then opened with $183 million throughout the course of its opening weekend.
The preview for Moana 2 began at 2:00 PM on Tuesday afternoon. It is currently projected that it could make anywhere from $135 million to $145 million throughout the course of the Thanksgiving Day weekend. If it meets expectations, Moana 2 could have the strongest Thanksgiving Day weekend opening ever. This would put it over the $125 million that Frozen II made over its first five days during the holiday weekend and also Hunger Games: Catching Fire and its $105 million over the 2013 Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.
Moana 2 continues the story of Moana as she seeks to find more people from different islands in the ocean and protect the future for her own. Daps Magic’s review of this film can be found here. Originally it was being made as a series for Disney+. However, with the return of Bob Iger to the role of CEO of The Walt Disney Company, it was changed to be made into a full-length feature with a theatrical release.
About Moana 2
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. Jared Bush and Miller are writing the film, which is executive produced by Jennifer Lee, Bush and Johnson.
The film also features returning stars Rachel House (Moana’s Grandma, Tala), Temuera Morrison (Moana’s father, Chief Tui) and Nicole Scherzinger (Moana’s mother, Sina), as well as the voices of Hualālai Chung, David Fane and Rose Matafeo as Moana’s new crew members Moni, Kele and Loto, respectively. Awhimai Fraser voices mysterious new character Matangi; Gerald Ramsey plays Moana’s ancestor, Tautai Vasa; and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda lends her voice to Moana’s adoring and adorable little sister, Simea.
Have you seen Moana 2 yet? Are you going to? If you did see it, what did you think of it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
