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Box Office Thanksgiving Smash: Moana 2 Sets New Records, Surges Ahead of Wicked
Dec
Disney’s Moana 2 has made waves at the box office, smashing Thanksgiving weekend records with a jaw-dropping global debut of $386.3 million. The highly anticipated sequel outpaced Wicked, another holiday season blockbuster, securing its place as the top film of the weekend.
A New Thanksgiving Record
Domestically, Moana 2 earned $221 million over the five-day weekend, shattering the previous Thanksgiving record set by The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($109.9 million in 2013). Internationally, the film brought in $165.3 million, rounding out its extraordinary global performance.
Meanwhile, Wicked maintained its strong momentum with $117.5 million in domestic earnings during its second weekend, bringing its worldwide total to $359.3 million.
The Story of Moana 2
Set three years after the original, Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) as they embark on a new adventure. This time, Moana leads her voyaging village and seeks to connect with other island communities, tackling survival and leadership alongside an unlikely group of seafarers.
“This is not only her journey anymore,” Cravalho explained, emphasizing the theme of teamwork and shared responsibility. “Moana has this sense of, ‘No one’s going to run this canoe like I am,’ and yet there is an absolute need to realize that we are all pieces in a much larger puzzle.”
How Wicked is Holding Up
Wicked, based on the beloved Broadway musical, continues to draw audiences with its magical story of friendship between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). Director Jon M. Chu teased the emotional depth of the upcoming Wicked Part 2, set for release in November 2025, describing it as a story about the “consequences” of the characters’ choices.
Other Box Office Highlights
- Gladiator II: Ridley Scott’s sequel earned $44 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic total to $111.2 million and global earnings to $320 million. The film stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, continuing the saga of the 2000 epic.
- Red One: The holiday comedy-action film starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans added $18.7 million for a $148.6 million global total.
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: This faith-based holiday drama grossed $3.2 million, bringing its domestic total to $32 million.
A Festive Box Office Season
With Moana 2 setting records, Wicked captivating fans, and Gladiator II holding steady, this Thanksgiving weekend highlighted the power of diverse storytelling — from heartwarming family films to epic fantasies and musicals.
Disney’s Moana 2 is poised to continue its domination, while Wicked and Gladiator II prove there’s room for multiple blockbusters to thrive this holiday season.
