Moana 2 continues to see how far it can go. The sequel has been breaking records all week. It now has broken a new one and become the most successful 5-day opening of all time. The film’s $221 million since Wednesday saw it surpass the previous record-holder The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its $204.6 million in 2023. It also is the most successful Thanksgiving opening weekend release. It surpassed Frozen and its $94 million haul in 2014. Only Frozen II and its second-weekend earnings of $125 million in 2019 are larger.
“Moana 2 has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that Moana has become,” Alan Bergman, co-chairman, Disney Entertainment, said. “We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented and hard-working creative team at Disney Animation who brought this new adventure to life, alongside our wonderful stars Auli‘i and Dwayne and great new music. This is a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to all the moviegoers and fans who’ve helped make this a record-breaking debut.”
The film has earned $386 million worldwide to date. It also now means that Disney has the top seven opening Thanksgiving weekends of all time as well as nine out of the top ten. It also means that Disney has the three most successful movies of 2024. This includes Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and also Moana 2.
The original Moana was released in 2016. Today, it is more popular than ever. The original film was the most streamed movie on any platform in 2023 with over 1 billion hours streamed.
The story of Moana has led to fans connecting with this story via apparel, books, and toys. It also will be a new show aboard the Disney Treasure called Disney The Tale of Moana.
“Seeing the popularity of Moana grow since it was released eight years ago is incredible,” Jared Bush, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, said. “We spend so long making these movies, and everyone puts their heart into them. That people still find themselves in her story and want to be with Moana on the canoe, it’s a dream come true.”
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!
