“Moana 2,” originally intended as a television show intended for streaming, is officially a billion-dollar box office success.
The animated sequel grossed $445 million domestically and $567 million internationally, bringing its grand total to $1.009 billion worldwide after eight weekends of release. “Moana 2” is Disney’s third 2024 release to join the billion-dollar club after “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” capping a stellar 12-month year for the movie studio. None of its competitors have achieved a single billion-dollar release in 2024, although Universal came closest with “Despicable Me 4” ($969 million).
“Moana 2” opened on Nov. 28 and cemented a Thanksgiving box office record with $225 million over the five-day holiday, obliterating the previous benchmark set by 2019’s “Frozen II” with $125 million. . Despite mixed reviews, the film enjoyed positive word of mouth among moviegoers and remained in the top five on the domestic charts for seven consecutive weekends. Now in its eighth frame, “Moana 2” landed at No. 6 with $6.1 million over the weekend and $8.4 million over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. holiday period.
The boon of “Moana 2,” both for Disney and theater owners, should be an encouraging illustration in favor of cinema, as the sequel was developed as a series for Disney+ before being transformed into a feature film . Now, the film will continue to expand through home entertainment windows before landing on Disney’s own streaming platform. The first “Moana” enjoyed modest success grossing $680 million worldwide in 2016, but the ocean adventure exploded in popularity on Disney+, where it remained one of the most-watched streaming titles. Disney is also developing a live-action remake of the original due for release in 2026. Supersized ticket sales for the animated sequel likely mean a third installment featuring the plucky wayfinder won’t be too far on the horizon either.
Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho reprized their roles as the tattooed demigod Maui and eponymous heroine “Moana 2,” in which the courageous guide travels far into the ocean to find a hidden island and break a curse. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote such memorable hits as “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” for the first film, did not return for the second, instead handing over writing duties to songs to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the duo behind “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical”.
