“Moana 2” is expected to make a splash at the box office over Thanksgiving weekend.

The sequel to Disney’s musical hit “Moana” opens in 4,200 North American theaters on Wednesday and is expected to gross between $135 million and $145 million in its first five days of release. Those ticket sales would represent the largest Thanksgiving frame, surpassing 2019’s Disney sequel “Frozen II” ($125 million over five days) and 2013’s “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” ($109 million). Dollars in the five days).

“Moana” will also debut at the international box office, where it would add another $100 million, bringing the total to $235 million. Based on pre-sales and enthusiasm, the animated adventure is primed to be another box office success for Disney in 2024, following June’s “Inside Out 2” ($1.6 billion) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($1.6 billion). 3 billion US dollars) had achieved mega successes. Theaters are particularly grateful for the expected win since the “Moana” sequel was developed as a TV show for Disney+ before being adapted into a film.

The original Moana was released in theaters over the 2016 Thanksgiving long weekend to $82 million. It was a success for Disney, grossing $680 million at the global box office, but continued to grow in popularity on Disney+ and other digital platforms. In 2023 – seven years after its theatrical debut – “Moana” was the most-streamed film of the year in the US with 11.6 billion minutes watched, according to Nielson. So the Polynesian adventure hasn’t lost its popularity since the first Trump administration. For this reason, the studio is also developing a separate live-action remake of the original, scheduled for release in 2026.

Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho reprise their voice roles as the tattooed demigod Maui and the Polynesian heroine (who is not a princess) Moana in the sequel, in which the courageous wayfinder travels far into the ocean to find a hidden island and avoid a curse break. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote such memorable hits as “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” for the first film, did not return for the second, instead handing over songwriting duties to Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear . the duo behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.

Thanksgiving is typically a busy time at the movies, but this year’s holiday franchise — with help from “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” — is expected to bring record attendance. “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and “Creed II” made for the biggest Turkey Day ever, with grosses of $315 million for all films. The post-pandemic Thanksgiving holiday was lackluster at best, but the 2023 holiday was one of the worst in modern history, totaling just $125 million, led by Disney’s “Wish” and the “Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of.” Songbirds and Snakes”.

“Wicked,” the theatrical version of the first act of the popular Broadway show, has grossed $129 million domestically and $178 million worldwide after four days of release. Universal’s big-budget musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is opening with estimates of $60 million in its traditional weekend (about 50% less than its record opening of $114 million) and at least $80 million finishing in second place over the five days. Audience enthusiasm for “Wicked” is not only appreciated, but necessary as “Part Two,” chronicling the second act of the musical, hits big screens in 2025. The two films cost a combined $300 million, not including the extensive and expensive marketing efforts.

Meanwhile, “Gladiator II” has grossed $60.5 million domestically and $225 million worldwide. Paramount’s R-rated sequel to 2000’s “Gladiator” is expected to bring in $33 million in North American theaters on its traditional weekend (down 44% from its $55.5 million debut) and between Wednesday and Sunday grossing $45 million. The sword-and-sandal epic, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, cost a whopping $250 million to produce and at least $100 million in advertising, so the tentpole at the box office worldwide must remain, to justify its price.