The huge splash continues for Disney’s “Moana 2,” which earned an enormous $54.5 million on Black Friday from 4,200 areas, shattering the $34.1 million file that was notched by “Frozen II” in 2019. Not solely that, however the movie has now earned $140 million and already surged previous the five-day vacation weekend file by “Frozen II” ($125 million) — and it didn’t even want Saturday or Sunday grosses to do it.
It’s a welcome return to the highest for Walt Disney Animation, notably after delivering two field workplace duds (“Strange World” and “Wish”) over the previous two Novembers — and it’s robust proof that the corporate’s household fare remains to be a superlative theatrical draw. “Moana 2” was initially conceived as a Disney+ collection, however the studio’s determination to transform the mission right into a theatrical sequel has confirmed worthwhile, ho-hum critiques apart. Audiences nonetheless love “Moana 2,” with an “A-” grade from ticketbuyer pollster Cinema Score.
After a fall largely outlined by field workplace underperformances, “Moana 2” is main a resurgence that theaters hope will carry over within the holidays. And after spectacular openings final weekend, Universal’s “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II” are each proving to be enduring releases.
“Wicked” is runner-up for Thanksgiving weekend, including one other $32 million on Black Friday. The adaptation of the favored Broadway musical appears to attain north of $115 million over the five-day vacation body and enhance its home complete to greater than $260 million in its first 10 days on screens. That would plant it because the seventh-highest-grossing North American launch of the yr, simply behind “Twisters” ($267 million) — and there’s a lot extra within the tank between vacation season moviegoing and awards buzz. Universal spent a collective $300 million to supply “Wicked” and its coming 2025 sequel, plus rather more on an formidable advertising marketing campaign, however the funding has delivered a real theatrical occasion.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s “Gladiator II” added one other $12.4 million on Friday. Director Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Oscar finest image winner appears to move $100 million domestically Saturday, one among 20 titles to notch that achievement this yr. On the three-day body, the R-rated swords-and-sandals epic is projecting a 42% drop from its opening weekend. It’s been a large run up to now, however with a manufacturing price range of $250 million, Paramount is probably going hoping “Gladiator II” can maintain itself with much more wholesome holds within the weeks forward.
Even Amazon MGM’s “Red One” is getting a carry with the theatrical growth. The Christmas motion movie added $4.8 million on Friday. Rivals even have the movie seeing a 15% rise from the earlier week (Wednesday via Sunday), with projections to move a $75 million home gross after the five-day body. It’s nonetheless an underwhelming consequence for the $250 million manufacturing, however maybe holding its personal higher a bit higher than that chilly debut would’ve urged.
And the opposite vacation film available on the market can be getting a lift, with Lionsgate’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” taking in an estimated $1.3 million on Friday. After Sunday, the Kingdom Story Company manufacturing can have earned greater than $32 million — a fantastic consequence towards its $10 million manufacturing price range.
