As the holiday season approaches, the film industry is experiencing a remarkable surge in box office figures. Disney’s highly anticipated sequel, Moana 2, made a splash by launching previews that began at 2 PM, astonishingly raking in approximately $12 million on a Tuesday. This figure not only sets a record for pre-Thanksgiving earnings, but it also significantly outpaces the previous record held by Ralph Breaks the Internet, which earned $3.8 million on its pre-Thanksgiving day. With this impressive start, the film is predicted to hit a staggering $125 million to $135 million over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, showcasing Disney’s continued dominance in the animated film sector.
The excitement surrounding Moana 2 isn’t just a product of its franchise recognition; it also benefits from timely strategic positioning within the academic calendar. With nearly half of K-12 schools and a substantial portion of colleges on break for the holiday, it’s no wonder that families flock to the theater to enjoy this new adventure featuring beloved characters voiced by Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho. While the critical reception may be less enthusiastic than that of its predecessor, Frozen II, which achieved a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Moana 2 still maintains a respectable 69%, indicating that audiences are likely to find it appealing.
Wicked’s Continued Success
Meanwhile, Universal’s film adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked is also enjoying a golden week at the box office, set to collect between $16 million and $17 million on the same Tuesday. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film is performing admirably despite its lengthy 2-hour-and-40-minute runtime. In fact, its impressive numbers suggest only the second-best Tuesday earnings for November, trailing behind Frozen II’s notable $20.7 million from 2019. With an accumulated total of roughly $145.2 million, Wicked is all but certain to surpass The Greatest Showman’s total domestic gross of $174.3 million by the end of the holiday weekend, establishing itself as Universal’s highest-grossing cinematic adaptation of a Broadway musical.
This leads to an exciting conversation about the viability of musical adaptations in the current cinematic landscape. As Wicked trounces previous competition from films like Into the Woods and Mamma Mia!, it vitalizes the genre and suggests that musical adaptations are far from a fading trend. With its unique blend of stunning visuals and powerful performances by stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked demonstrates that audiences continue to crave these theatrical experiences on the big screen.
An Array of Options for Moviegoers
Amidst all this celebration, Paramount’s Gladiator II is also making its mark by showing strong performance metrics, fueled by a 25% increase from Monday’s haul of $5.5 million. The film is on track to reach approximately $7 million, contributing to a domestic gross nearing $67.6 million. This classic film revival appeals not only to a predominantly male audience but also captures attention with a significant older female demographic. Gladiator II is shaping up to be the perfect date night option over the coming weeks, reflecting the diverse array of films available to moviegoers this holiday season.
With Disney’s Moana 2 and Universal’s Wicked leading the charge, this pre-Thanksgiving week seems poised to break records and usher in a successful holiday movie season, captivating audiences with a blend of nostalgia and fresh storytelling. As industry watchers keep a close eye on these box office dynamics, it becomes clear that there is much to celebrate in the resurgence of theatrical cinema.