Lin-Manuel Miranda explained that he wasn't involved in writing music for "Moana 2" due to the film's production timeline, which already had songwriters Barlow and Bear attached. Despite the film's box office success, its soundtrack has faced mixed reviews, with some fans missing Miranda's influence. Barlow and Bear, known for "The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical," have faced criticism for their approach, but Miranda expressed pride in their work alongside composers Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina.
Lin-Manuel Miranda explained why he didn't return for 'Moana 2,' stating that the timing didn't align as he was already working on 'Mufasa: The Lion King' after finishing 'Encanto.' 'Moana 2' was initially developed as a TV series by Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow before becoming a film. Miranda praised Bear and Barlow's music and expressed excitement over Auli'i Cravalho's growth as a performer. He also shared his enthusiasm for working with director Barry Jenkins on the 'Mufasa' prequel, which explores the backstory of Mufasa and Scar.
The post-Thanksgiving box office hit a record $132 million, surpassing the previous $120 million record set in 2018. Leading the charge were "Moana 2" and "Wicked," grossing $52 million and $34.9 million respectively. "Gladiator II" followed with $12.5 million. Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" re-release also contributed with $4.4 million. Other notable entries included "Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2" and "Y2K," though the latter underperformed with just $2.1 million.
"Moana 2" has achieved $600 million in global box office sales, becoming the sixth-biggest movie of the year, with equal earnings from domestic and international markets. In contrast, "The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim" had a weak overseas debut, earning only $2 million. Meanwhile, Universal's "Wicked" adaptation has surpassed $400 million globally, and "Gladiator II" continues to perform well internationally. "Red One," despite its high budget, has underperformed with $164 million globally.
Disney's 'Moana 2' has reached a global box office milestone of $600 million, with an even split between domestic and international earnings. Universal's 'Wicked' has surpassed $450 million worldwide, becoming the biggest non-sequel of the year. Meanwhile, India's 'Pushpa 2' is breaking records with a massive opening, estimated at $90 million globally, making it the first Indian film to cross 400 crore in its opening weekend. These films are leading the international box office, showcasing strong performances across various markets.
"Moana 2" dominated the box office with $52 million in its second weekend, despite a 63% drop from its Thanksgiving debut. The film has grossed $300 million domestically and $600 million globally, nearing the lifetime gross of its predecessor. Meanwhile, A24's "Y2K" flopped with a $2 million debut, receiving poor reviews. Other notable performances include "Wicked" with $34.85 million and "Gladiator II" with $12.4 million. The post-Thanksgiving weekend set a new record with $132 million in total grosses.
"Moana 2" continues to dominate the box office, earning $11.7 million on Friday and expected to reach nearly $300 million domestically by the end of its second weekend. Despite mixed reviews, the film's transition from a Disney+ series to a theatrical release has been successful. Other top films include "Wicked," "Gladiator II," and "Red One." Meanwhile, A24's "Y2K" opened in eighth place with $910,000, receiving poor reviews and a low CinemaScore.
Walt Disney Animation's 'Moana 2' is breaking records with an estimated $50M-$55M in its second weekend, pushing its global earnings close to $600M. This marks the highest post-Thanksgiving weekend gross, surpassing 'Frozen II'. Meanwhile, 'Wicked' continues to perform strongly, contributing to a 100% increase in domestic box office revenue compared to last year. 'Gladiator II' also adds to the robust box office performance, with overall annual revenue now projected to reach $8.5-$8.6 billion.
Moana 2 continues to dominate the box office, with projections suggesting it will surpass $575 million globally by the end of its second weekend, potentially reaching $590 million. The film is breaking records, including the highest post-Thanksgiving weekend gross, previously held by Frozen 2. Despite strong competition from Wicked and upcoming releases like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2 is on track to be one of the top-grossing films of 2024, though it may fall short of Inside Out 2's record.
Disney's 'Moana 2' is set to surpass the original's box office total, with a second weekend earning of $55M-$60M, and is expected to cross $300M alongside 'Wicked'. 'Pushpa 2' is performing well with a $10M+ four-day run, while 'Y2K' opens with over $2M. 'Wicked' continues strong with a third weekend of $31.7M, and 'Gladiator II' maintains its position with a $12.3M third weekend. Meanwhile, 'Interstellar's re-release is seeing impressive per-theater averages.
The Thanksgiving 2024 box office saw record-breaking success with 'Moana 2,' 'Wicked,' and 'Gladiator II,' collectively earning $425 million over the five-day weekend. This surge has raised hopes that the domestic box office could reach $8.5 billion by year's end, despite earlier declines due to labor strikes and the pandemic. The success of these films, particularly 'Moana 2' and 'Wicked,' which appeal to different demographics, suggests a strong finish to the year, with upcoming releases like 'Mufasa: The Lion King' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' expected to contribute significantly.
"Moana 2" has shattered box office records with a $386 million global debut, highlighting the advantages of theatrical releases over direct-to-streaming strategies. Originally planned as a Disney+ series, the film's success underscores the cultural and financial benefits of cinema premieres, suggesting that the era of direct-to-streaming blockbusters may be waning. The film's performance is expected to boost Disney's profits further through VOD, merchandise, and eventual streaming on Disney+, reinforcing the value of theatrical exposure.
"Moana 2" is set to break records with an anticipated $60 million in its second weekend, marking a significant achievement for a post-Thanksgiving release. This performance surpasses previous records for the first weekend of December, traditionally a slow period for box office sales. Other films like "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" are also performing well, while new releases such as "Pushpa 2" and "Y2K" are expected to make notable debuts.
"Moana 2" has set a box office record but faces criticism for its soundtrack, which some say lacks the memorable hooks of the original. Songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, known for their Grammy-winning "The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical," were tasked with creating new music for the sequel. Despite comparisons to Lin-Manuel Miranda's work on the first film, the duo embraced the challenge, incorporating Pacific culture and evolving Moana's story. Director Jason Hand and composer Opetaia Foa'i emphasize the collaborative effort and cultural authenticity in the music.
Disney's recent success with "Moana 2," which broke box office records, marks a strategic shift under CEO Bob Iger, focusing on entertainment over political messaging. This success contrasts with challenges faced by the upcoming live-action "Snow White," which has been marred by controversies and expensive reshoots. Disney's strategy now emphasizes theatrical releases and avoiding divisive issues, aiming to maximize audience reach and economic returns.
