Disney’s highly anticipated Moana 2 hits theaters today and is expected to rake in $120–150 million in the U.S. and Canada by Sunday. The animated sequel will join Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II, both in their second week of screenings, during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Box office analysts predict this holiday period will easily surpass $200 million in ticket sales, possibly becoming the second- or third-highest-grossing Thanksgiving weekend in history.
“The combination of Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II is the perfect storm for theaters this Thanksgiving,” said Shawn Robbins, a box-office expert.
The last time Thanksgiving weekend hit this kind of box-office success was in 2018, when movies like Ralph Breaks the Internet brought in $315 million.
Disney has high hopes for Moana 2, especially after the first film’s popularity and recent hits like Inside Out 2. Preview screenings for the movie brought in a record $13.8 million on Tuesday, marking the highest pre-Thanksgiving haul for Disney Animation.
Meanwhile, Wicked and Gladiator II continue to attract audiences. Wicked is projected to earn $80 million over the five days, while Gladiator II is expected to pull in $45 million.
This Thanksgiving could be a game-changer for theaters, with moviegoers flocking to see a mix of family-friendly animations, musicals, and action-packed epics.
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