The box office is back — at least for the Thanksgiving week ended Dec. 1.
Disney’s animated Moana 2 didn’t disappoint, generating a record $221 million in ticket sales over the extended five-day period, just $27 million shy of the original’s entire North American gross in 2016.
With another $165 million in foreign market revenue, the sequel topped $386 million worldwide to become the No. 2 global box office debut in 2024 behind Deadpool & Wolverine, and ahead of the year’s top-grossing release Inside Out 2.
“Moana 2 has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that [the franchise] has become,” Alan Bergman, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, said in a statement. “We’re fortunate to have an incredibly talented and hard-working creative team at Disney Animation. This is a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to all the moviegoers and fans who’ve helped make this a record-breaking debut.”
Separately, last weekend’s No. 1, Universal Pictures’ Wizard of Oz-themed musical Wicked: Part 1 added a record $117.5 million in ticket sales to up its North American tally to $262 million and $400 million globally.
In its second week, Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II continued to entertain moviegoers, grossing an estimated $44 million to up its North American total past $111 million, and $320 million worldwide.
Meanwhile, strong word-of-mouth reviews kept Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the box office Top 5 with about $4.85 million in extended week ticket sales.
Angel Studios’ faith-based World War 2 drama Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. added $3.44 million to up its two-week total near $10 million.
Finally, Columbia Pictures’ Venom: The Last Dance added $3.1 million for the five-day period, bringing its total domestic gross to $137.9 million and $394.2 million globally through Sunday.
Columbia Pictures/Wayfarer Studios’ romantic drama It Ends With Us added $1.8 million to up its global total past $344 million.
AMC Theatres, which saw its highest pre-Thanksgiving weekend revenue in its 104-year history, said 4.6 million moviegoers entered its theatres globally from Thursday to Sunday.
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