By Daybreak Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Walt Disney (NYSE:)’s animated musical “Moana 2” debuted with an estimated $368 million in international ticket gross sales by means of Sunday and mixed with “Depraved” and “Gladiator II” to ship the most important Thanksgiving weekend in U.S. and Canadian field workplace historical past.
A sequel to the 2016 animated movie, “Moana 2” reunites Auli’i Cravalho because the wayfinding title character with demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, on a voyage to interrupt a curse and reunite the individuals of the ocean.
Initially envisioned as a sequence for the Disney+ streaming service, “Moana 2” racked up a report $221 million from home ticket gross sales over the Thanksgiving interval from Wednesday by means of Sunday. That surpassed “Frozen 2’s” vacation haul of $125 million in 2019.
For all motion pictures in theaters this weekend, the home complete hit $420 million, smashing the 2018 Thanksgiving report of $315.6 million led by “Ralph Breaks the Web” and “Creed II.”
The outcomes offered Hollywood studios and cinemas a cause to rejoice after extended closures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and considerations that audiences may abandon theaters in favor of staying house to look at streaming TV.
“When you make the suitable film, a film with coronary heart and humor that appeals to audiences, they’ll come to the theater,” Disney Leisure Co-Chairman Alan Bergman mentioned at a current “Moana 2” screening in Los Angeles.
The figures additionally confirmed Hollywood had rebounded from disruptions attributable to strikes by writers and actors final yr. Chains akin to AMC Leisure (NYSE:) and Cineworld have been left with a skinny schedule for moviegoers within the first half of 2024.
“Depraved,” the variation of a beloved Broadway musical that could be a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” introduced in $117.5 million over Thanksgiving. Its international complete after two weekends in theaters reached $359.2 million, distributor Common Footage mentioned.
Paramount Footage’ motion epic “Gladiator II,” the sequel to a greatest image winner 20 years in the past, hauled in $44 million domestically over the vacation and introduced its international complete to $320 million.
Earlier than the weekend, year-to-date home ticket gross sales had hovered practically 11% behind the identical level in 2023, in keeping with information from Comscore. The Thanksgiving tally narrowed the deficit to six.4%.
Nonetheless, the receipts remained considerably beneath pre-pandemic ranges. By way of Sunday, home ticket gross sales for 2024 have been roughly 24% decrease than the tempo of 2019.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, mentioned the frenzy at theaters this weekend would probably gas sturdy gross sales within the coming weeks. He cited a variety of potential hits reaching theaters in December to “assist the trade take the yr out on a excessive word.”
They embrace “Kraven the Hunter,” the animated “Lord of the Rings: the Conflict of the Rohirrim,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Mufasa: The Lion King,” he mentioned.