As Thanksgiving approaches, the box office is buzzing with record-breaking numbers. Disney’s Moana 2 is making waves, setting a new high for Tuesday pre-Thanksgiving previews. Starting its showings at 2 PM, the sequel has already raked in over $12 million, a massive leap from the $3.8 million earned by 2018’s Ralph Breaks the Internet on its preview day. These earnings will roll into Wednesday’s totals, with Moana 2 projected to achieve a record-breaking Thanksgiving five-day opening of $125-$135 million. Disney has yet to comment on these impressive early estimates.
Reviews for the highly anticipated sequel starring Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho have been mixed, with a 69% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Frozen II’s 77%. Deadline’s critic Dessi Gomez, however, praised the film, stating, “Moana 2 makes a satisfying splash as a sequel.”
Tuesday’s success can partially be attributed to factors like discounted tickets and the fact that 48% of K-12 schools and 20% of colleges were off for the day, according to Comscore.
Universal’s Wicked Continues to Shine
While Moana 2 dominates in its debut, Universal’s Wicked is holding strong. Despite its lengthy 2-hour 40-minute runtime compared to Moana 2’s 100 minutes, the adaptation is set to pull in $16-$17 million this Tuesday, marking an 8% increase from its record-breaking $15.8 million Monday. This performance positions Wicked as the second-highest Tuesday in November history, trailing only Frozen II’s $20.7 million on November 26, 2019.
Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked is on track to amass $145.2 million by the end of Tuesday. By the weekend, the musical is expected to surpass The Greatest Showman’s domestic total of $174.3 million and become Universal’s highest-grossing Broadway adaptation, overtaking Les Misérables’ $149.2 million. Already, Wicked has outperformed other Broadway adaptations such as Into the Woods ($128 million) and both Mamma Mia! films ($144.3 million and $120.6 million, respectively). Clearly, Broadway musicals remain a powerful force at the box office.
Paramount’s Gladiator II Finds Its Audience
Paramount’s Gladiator II is also showing strong numbers, with Tuesday’s earnings up 25% from Monday’s $5.5 million to nearly $7 million. This brings the Ridley Scott epic’s domestic total to $67.6 million. The film’s appeal spans demographics, drawing both older men and women, making it a prime date-night choice for weeks to come.
Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Box Office in Sight
For context, the highest-grossing Thanksgiving five-day frame was set in 2018, led by Ralph Breaks the Internet, which helped the period achieve a collective $315.6 million, according to Comscore. With Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II performing exceptionally well, this Thanksgiving promises to deliver another landmark moment for the film industry.
