There is a new member of the billion-dollar club as Moana 2 crossed the threshold this weekend.
The animated sequel, which grossed an additional $8.4 million domestically over the four-day Martin Luther King weekend, became the third Disney film of 2024 to cross the $1 billion mark as it joined Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Moana 2 opened on Nov. 28 and shattered the Thanksgiving box office record of $125 million set by Frozen II, with a $225 million haul over the five-day time frame. Despite mixed reviews from critics, Moana 2 was able to ride a strong word-of-mouth from moviegoers and spent seven consecutive weekends in the top five at the domestic box office.
The film's success is another testament to those who still believe in the theatrical experience. In December 2020, the film was originally announced as a spin-off series set to stream on Disney+. It was announced alongside three other spin-offs of animated properties, which were Baymax, a follow-up to Big Hero 6, Zootopia+ (Zootopia) and Tiana (The Princess and the Frog).
The film's predecessor, Moana, was a box office success in 2016, earning $680 million at the global box office. The financial success raised questions regarding the decision to not announce a sequel. However, the film really took off on Disney+ as it became one of the services most-watched streaming titles.
In February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the Moana spin-off would be moving to the big screen, citing that the footage of the series was so impressive that there was more to be explored, and it should be done in theaters. Despite Iger's comments, some insiders believed that the move to the theaters was a response to Disney's disappointing box office performance in 2023, which included numerous misfires such as Wish, The Marvels and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This speculation would be reinforced in May 2024 when Iger said the company would be "swinging back a bit to lean on sequels."
In this instance, the decision appears to have paid off, as Moana 2 will continue to earn revenue in theaters and on VOD before moving to streaming. With the success of the film, Moana is now a hit franchise for Disney, and it will not be the last time we see the lovable wayfinder. In 2026, a live action remake of the first film is slated to hit theaters with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, while Catherine Laga'aia will take on the role of Moana. In addition, a third animated film is likely not too far off either. ~Ryan Donahue