Moana 2 Box Office Success: $717 Million Brings Disney Close to Major Achievement Last Seen 5 Years Ago

Despite receiving less favorable reviews than its predecessor, Moana 2 is achieving remarkable box office success, surpassing the original film significantly. Early performance metrics reveal that it is set to break numerous records, including those held by Frozen 2, such as the highest Thanksgiving opening gross and the biggest Black Friday earnings for a Disney animated feature. This positions Moana 2 to potentially become one of the top-earning animated films in cinematic history, granting Disney a major milestone not seen in the last five years.

Moana 2 Could Dominate the Box Office Landscape of 2024

Close to Surpassing Despicable Me 4 in Box Office Earnings

This year, Disney has an opportunity to secure the top three box office titles, with current leading films including Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Despicable Me 4. As of now, Moana 2 stands in fourth place and is only about $252 million shy of overtaking Despicable Me 4. Historical context suggests that this is likely; for instance, Despicable Me 2 grossed $970 million in 2013, landing it in third place against formidable competitors like Frozen and Iron Man 3. Given Moana 2‘s robust performance, analysts expect it to surpass Despicable Me 4.

Top 5 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2024 (So Far)
Movie	Worldwide Box Office
Inside Out 2	$1,698,641,117
Deadpool & Wolverine	$1,338,073,645
Despicable Me 4	$969,274,793
Ocean 2	$717,802,544
Dune: Part Two	$714,444,358
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire	$571,750,016

While it remains to be seen whether Moana 2 can exceed the total earnings of Frozen 2 ($1.4 billion), projections indicate that it is on track to reach the billion-dollar mark. Analysts predict that it could double the performance of the original Moana from its 2016 release. Regardless of whether it ultimately makes the top three, the film’s ongoing box office trajectory is impressive. The first film finished in twelfth place among top-grossing films, while the sequel is heading toward a range between the third and fifth positions.

Disney Last Achieved Top Three Box Office Dominance in 2019

Mufasa: The Lion King May Strengthen Disney’s Box Office Success

As critical acclaim builds around upcoming releases like Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu and Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, these films cater to niche audiences and are unlikely to disrupt the box office landscape significantly. The primary contender for Moana 2 is Mufasa: The Lion King, with its predecessor reaching a staggering $1.6 billion in 2019. Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 does not seem poised to pose much threat, considering the first two installments earned $319 million and $405 million, respectively.

The anticipation for Mufasa: The Lion King, directed by Barry Jenkins, suggests a potential for strong performance, as early Rotten Tomatoes ratings indicate a favorable reception. With only two weeks remaining in 2024, Moana 2 appears to be the frontrunner for third place. Should either movie surpass Despicable Me 4, it would enable Disney to reclaim the title of having the top three highest-grossing films, replicating their success from five years prior.

Sources: Box Office Mojo

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