CNN
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Instead of lounging on the couch after Thanksgiving, Americans went to the movies as the premiere of Disney’s “Moana 2” and the draw of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” gave the domestic box office a big boost.

The three blockbusters resulted in its five-day opening weekend surpassing 2018’s record of $315.6 million and grossing an estimated $420 million on Sunday.

The “Moana” sequel set the record for highest-grossing five-day opening, grossing $221 million domestically, surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which grossed $204.6 million in 2023.

“’Moana 2′ far exceeded our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that Moana has become,” said Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, in a press release.

“Having all three of these films seems to be a strategy, whether intentional or accidental, that really brings tremendous attention to the theatrical experience,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

The success of the three films offered a new perspective on how the box office year might end, he said, as no one expected this would be a $420 million Thanksgiving weekend.

According to Comscore, Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” grossed $262.4 million domestically after grossing another $80 million from Friday to Sunday. Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II,” which grossed $111.2 million, grossed $30.7 million from Friday to Sunday.

The two films, both opening on November 22nd, quickly received the “Glicked” portmanteau, similar to the “Barbenheimer” trend of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in summer 2023.

Holiday action film “Red One,” distributed domestically by Amazon MGM Studios and internationally by Warner Brothers Discovery, secured fourth place, earning $12.89 in its third weekend. Warner Bros. Discover is the parent company of CNN.

“Red One” was followed by Lionsgate’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which grossed $3.27 in its second weekend.

In the meantime, there should still be leftovers at the box office after this Thanksgiving success. The three biggest films are expected to have longevity and continue to attract attention for weeks.

Daniel Loria, editorial director at The Boxoffice Company, said “Gladiator II” won’t have direct competition until mid-December, when Sony’s “Kraven the Hunter” hits theaters. “Moana 2” won’t have an animated family film competitor for a few weeks when both “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” hit theaters on December 20th. There will be interactive screenings of “Wicked” starting December 25. There are around 1,000 theaters in North America where viewers can sing along to the film.

According to Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, some moviegoers have had difficulty purchasing advance tickets to the films and will likely be wooed to other screenings in the coming weeks.

According to Loria, Universal, Paramount and Disney focused on cinema-based marketing campaigns that cinema companies could rely on. According to data from Loria and The Boxoffice Company, the three most popular films accounted for 75 percent of all screenings this weekend.

This meant that cinemas focused on three very different audiences: those seeking epic historical action, musical fantasy and animated adventure.

Dergarabedian said the big screen goes hand in hand with streaming services at home and can increase a film’s long-term success.

“It was additive and complementary: the big screen and the small screen for Disney worked together to build potential revenue and viewership,” he said.