:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2185792419-6c717f332ac04f7ea17177b4d8c6f2b0.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1324&ssl=1 "‘Moana 2’ Almost Wasn’t a Movie. Now It Could Be a Big Hit for Disney")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/GettyImages-2185792419-6c717f332ac04f7ea17177b4d8c6f2b0.jpg)
Key Takeaways
- Disney’s “Moana 2” opened in theaters Wednesday, following the strong release last week of “Wicked” from Universal Pictures.
- The film is expected to outpace Disney’s “Frozen” and “Frozen 2” over the Wednesday-to-Sunday Thanksgiving stretch, according to Deadline.
- “Moana 2” originally was intended to be a streaming TV series, but Disney CEO Bob Iger said in February it would instead come to to the big screen.
Disney’s (DIS) Moana 2 hit theaters Wednesday, in what’s expected to be the latest blockbuster on the heels of Wicked.
The sequel to 2016’s Moana is expected to make $125 million to $135 million domestically and $100 million abroad over the five-day stretch from Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, Deadline reported. That would top the $93.5 million and $125 million made by Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2, respectively, in their Thanksgiving week debuts. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A total global opening of $225 million would fall short of the $295 million drawn by Disney’s other 2024 animated hit, Inside Out 2, the top-gross animated movie of all time, according to Deadline.
‘Moana 2’ Originally Intended To Be a Streaming TV Series
Moana 2 almost was not a movie at all.
The sequel originally was developed as a streaming series—but CEO Bob Iger said in February that it “deserved a theatrical release.” Notably, the decision was made despite the fact that a live-action Moana film is in development.
Shares of Disney are up 28% in 2024.
‘Wicked’ Draws Huge Turnout
Moana 2 is expected to be the latest blockbuster to hit theaters: Universal Pictures’ Wicked enjoyed significant success after its Nov. 22 debut.
Wicked drew $114 million in North America and another $50.2 million internationally over the weekend, per Variety.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2185792419-6c717f332ac04f7ea17177b4d8c6f2b0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=%E2%80%98Moana+2%E2%80%99+Almost+Wasn%E2%80%99t+a+Movie.+Now+It+Could+Be+a+Big+Hit+for+Disney){kind=link}