Moana 2" Sets New Disney Record in Previews

“Moana 2” Could Become the Biggest Thanksgiving Release in History

Moana 2, the sequel to Disney’s 2016 hit Moana, broke Disney Animation records during its Tuesday preview screenings, positioning the film for a potential record-breaking five-day Thanksgiving weekend debut.

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Key Facts

• Variety reported that Moana 2 earned $13.8 million from its preview screenings, setting a new record for the highest-grossing previews ahead of Thanksgiving weekend for a Disney Animation film.

• The movie, which debuted Wednesday, is projected to earn between $135 million and $145 million over the five-day holiday period. This would surpass the $125 million opening of Frozen II, which currently holds the Thanksgiving weekend record.

• Moana 2 also outperformed Inside Out 2, 2024’s highest-grossing film so far, which earned $13 million in previews before its release1 The original Moana earned $56.6 million during its opening weekend over Thanksgiving in 2016—equivalent to $74 million today—and went on to gross $248.8 million domestically and $643.3 million worldwide.

Big Number

67%. That’s the critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes for Moana 2 as of Wednesday, with reviews praising its “stunning” animation but criticizing its less memorable musical numbers.

Surprising Fact

In 2023, Moana became the most-streamed movie in the U.S., with 11.6 billion minutes of viewership.

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Background

The original Moana starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho and was set in ancient Polynesia, following Moana as she embarks on a mission to return a relic to the goddess Te Fiti. The film was widely praised for its strong female lead, absence of a “Prince Charming,” and its visually stunning animation, including the hand-drawn tattoos of Maui, Johnson’s character. Moana became Disney’s 12th official princess, and in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary, a Moana-themed walk-through attraction opened at EPCOT in Florida. Disney is also reportedly working on a live-action adaptation of the original film.

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