From CNBC: 2024-12-01 12:24:43

Auliʻi Cravalho reprises her role as Moana in Disney Animation’s highly anticipated “Moana 2,” leading a trio of films that brought in a record-breaking $420 million at the Thanksgiving box office. The film surpassed expectations, grossing $221 million during the five-day holiday period, marking the highest Thanksgiving weekend performance ever.

Universal’s “Wicked” continued its success with $117.5 million in ticket sales, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation domestically with $262.42 million. Paramount’s “Gladiator II” added $44 million to the holiday total, reaching $111.2 million domestically and $320 million globally after 10 days in theaters.

The successful weekend not only shattered previous Thanksgiving box office records but also narrowed the gap between 2024 and 2023 box office hauls. After facing challenges from labor strikes in Hollywood, 2024’s box office was down 11% compared to the previous year, but now trails by just 6.4%.

The strong performance of “Moana 2,” “Wicked,” and “Gladiator II” highlights the resilience of the moviegoing culture and the impact of diverse genres on the theatrical marketplace. The Thanksgiving box office success comes after a post-summer lull, showcasing the enduring appeal of big-screen entertainment in engaging audiences across different genres.



Read more at CNBC: ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Wicked’ fuel biggest Thanksgiving box office ever