“Moana 2” Expected to Outperform Post-Pandemic Releases During Thanksgiving Box Office Surge
The Thanksgiving holiday box office is set for a triumphant return, potentially surpassing $200 million for the first time since 2019. Anchored by Disney’s Moana 2, Universal’s Wicked, and Paramount’s Gladiator II, analysts predict this holiday weekend could become one of the highest-grossing in cinematic history, rivaling the record $315 million haul of 2018.
Disney’s Moana 2, opening Wednesday, is expected to lead the charge with $120-$150 million in domestic receipts by Sunday. Following closely are Wicked and Gladiator II, both in their second week, adding to the momentum. This “holy trinity of tentpole releases,” as Box Office Theory founder Shawn Robbins described, marks a return to pre-pandemic levels of all-audience cinematic appeal.
The weekend’s success is pivotal for Disney, whose animated Thanksgiving releases have struggled in recent years. Moana 2 aims to rekindle the studio’s holiday magic, bolstered by the legacy of its predecessor and the record-breaking summer performance of Inside Out 2. Industry analysts view this Thanksgiving as a crucial barometer for the year-end box office sprint, setting the stage for what could be a decisive win for theaters in 2024.
