Moana 2has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, now solidifying its status as one of 2024’s highest-grossing films. The animated sequel, which premiered on Thanksgiving 2024, continues the journey of Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, as she embarks to the far, treacherous seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors.Moana 2’s voice castalso includes the talents of Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo.
According toVariety,Moana 2’s box office has now surpassed $1 billion worldwide.Originally, the sequel was developed as a streaming-exclusive series for Disney+. However, it was later shifted to be a film set for theatrical release. This decision has proved a fruitful one, as reaching the $1 billion milestoneplaces the sequel as the third highest grossing Disney film this year,behindInside Out 2andDeadpool & Wolverine. Moreover, its Thanksgiving release set a box office record with its $225M opening. Previously,Frozen IIheld this record at $125M.
What This Means For Moana 2’s Box Office Records
Moana 2 Joins The Ranks Of Billion-Dollar Animated Successes
Moana 2’s impressive $1 billion global haul significantly outpaces the original movie’s $680M earnings in 2016.Compared to the first film,Moana 2had a much stronger appeal across global markets, with particularly notable success in the United States, China, and Europe. The sequel’s box office successcan be attributed to its wide theatrical release strategy versus streaming only on Disney+.
Moana 2 Box Office Numbers: Total, Worldwide, Domestic, Opening & Records
Moana 2 has already proven itself to be one of the biggest commercial successes of 2024 so far, but the sequel could even outshine the original.
Compared to other current releases,Moana 2stands out as a major box office success in 2024. It has outperformed other 2024 releases such asMufasa: The Lion King, which grossed $542.3M worldwide,Wicked, which grossed $708.6M globally, andSonic the Hedgehog 3, which just surpassed its previous sequel’s $405M earnings at $419.9M.Moana 2now joins the list of other billion-dollar animated hitslikeThe Lion King(2019) andThe Super Mario Bros. Movie(2023).
Our Take On Moana 2’s $1 Billion Success
Distribution Changes Worked In Moana 2’s Favor
The decision to changeMoana 2from a streaming series to a theatrically released film has proven to be an exceptional move for Walt Disney Studios. Its $1 billion box office performance underscores the appeal of Disney’s animated features and the massive potential of theatrical releases for family-friendly films. The ability forMoana’sfranchise to grow over the years while captivating new audiences sets a high bar for future animated sequels. Moreover, this success also emphasizes the importance of theatrical distribution for animated films, showcasing that there is still a significant demand for high-quality family films on the big screen, even as streaming services continue to dominate the market.
Moana 2
Cast
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
