The big splash continues for Disney’s “Moana 2,” which earned a massive $54.5 million on Black Friday from 4,200 locations, shattering the $34.1 million record that was notched by “Frozen II” in 2019. Not only that, but the film has now earned $140 million and already surged past the five-day holiday weekend record by “Frozen II” ($125 million) — and it didn’t even need Saturday or Sunday grosses to do it.
It’s a welcome return to the top for Walt Disney Animation, particularly after turning in two box office duds (“Strange World” and “Wish”) over the past two Novembers — and it’s strong evidence that the company’s family fare is still a superlative theatrical draw. “Moana 2” was originally conceived as a Disney+ series, but the studio’s decision to rework the project into a theatrical sequel has proven worthwhile, ho-hum reviews aside. Audiences still love “Moana 2,” with an “A-” grade from ticketbuyer pollster Cinema Score.
After a fall largely defined by box office underperformances, “Moana 2” is leading a resurgence that theaters hope will carry over in the holidays. And after impressive openings last weekend, Universal’s “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II” are both proving to be enduring releases.
“Wicked” is runner-up for Thanksgiving weekend, adding another $32 million on Black Friday. The adaptation of the popular Broadway musical looks to score north of $115 million over the five-day holiday frame and boost its domestic total to more than $260 million in its first 10 days on screens. That would plant it as the seventh-highest-grossing North American release of the year, just behind “Twisters” ($267 million) — and there’s plenty more in the tank between holiday season moviegoing and awards buzz. Universal spent a collective $300 million to produce “Wicked” and its coming 2025 sequel, plus much more on an ambitious marketing campaign, but the investment has delivered a true theatrical event.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s “Gladiator II” added another $12.4 million on Friday. Director Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Oscar best picture winner looks to pass $100 million domestically Saturday, one of 20 titles to notch that achievement this year. On the three-day frame, the R-rated swords-and-sandals epic is projecting a 42% drop from its opening weekend. It’s been a sizable run so far, but with a production budget of $250 million, Paramount is likely hoping “Gladiator II” can sustain itself with even more healthy holds in the weeks ahead.
Even Amazon MGM’s “Red One” is getting a lift with the theatrical boom. The Christmas action film added $4.8 million on Friday. Rivals actually have the film seeing a 15% rise from the previous week (Wednesday through Sunday), with projections to pass a $75 million domestic gross after the five-day frame. It’s still an underwhelming result for the $250 million production, but perhaps holding its own better a bit better than that chilly debut would’ve suggested.
And the other holiday movie on the market is also getting a boost, with Lionsgate’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” taking in an estimated $1.3 million on Friday. After Sunday, the Kingdom Story Company production will have earned more than $32 million — a great result against its $10 million production budget.
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