'Moana 2' and 'Wicked' lift box office

2/12/2024 6:08

        Walt Disney's
        animated musical "Moana 2" debuted with an estimated $368
        million in global ticket sales through Sunday and combined with
        "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" to deliver the biggest Thanksgiving
        weekend in U.S. and Canadian box office history.
        
        A sequel to the 2016 animated film, "Moana 2" reunites
        Auli'i Cravalho as the wayfinding title character with demigod
        Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, on a voyage to break a curse and
        reunite the people of the ocean.
        
        Initially envisioned as a series for the Disney+ streaming
        service, "Moana 2" racked up a record $221 million from domestic
        ticket sales over the Thanksgiving period from Wednesday through
        Sunday. That surpassed "Frozen 2's" holiday haul of $125 million
        in 2019.
        
        For all movies in theaters this weekend, the domestic total
        hit $420 million, smashing the 2018 Thanksgiving record of
        $315.6 million led by "Ralph Breaks the Internet" and "Creed
        II."
        
        The results provided Hollywood studios and cinemas a reason
        to celebrate after prolonged closures during the COVID-19
        pandemic and concerns that audiences might abandon theaters in
        favor of staying home to watch streaming TV.
        
        "If you make the right movie, a movie with heart and humor
        that appeals to audiences, they will come to the theater,"
        Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman said at a recent
        "Moana 2" screening in Los Angeles.
        
        The figures also showed Hollywood had rebounded from
        disruptions caused by strikes by writers and actors last year.
        Chains such as AMC Entertainment and Cineworld
        were left with a thin schedule for moviegoers in the first half
        of 2024.
        
        "Wicked," the adaptation of a beloved Broadway musical that
        is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," brought in $117.5 million
        over Thanksgiving. Its global total after two weekends in
        theaters reached $359.2 million, distributor Universal Pictures
        said.
        
        Paramount Pictures' action epic "Gladiator II," the
        sequel to a best picture winner two decades ago, hauled in $44
        million domestically over the holiday and brought its global
        total to $320 million.
        
        Before the weekend, year-to-date domestic ticket sales had
        hovered nearly 11% behind the same point in 2023, according to
        data from Comscore. The Thanksgiving tally narrowed the deficit
        to 6.4%.
        
        Still, the receipts remained significantly below
        pre-pandemic levels. Through Sunday, domestic ticket sales for
        2024 were roughly 24% lower than the pace of 2019.
        
        Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore,
        said the frenzy at theaters this weekend would likely fuel
        strong sales in the coming weeks. He cited a number of potential
        hits reaching theaters in December to "help the industry take
        the year out on a high note."
        
        They include "Kraven the Hunter," the animated "Lord of the
        Rings: the War of the Rohirrim," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and
        "Mufasa: The Lion King," he said.