Moana 2 has 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 cast also includes the talents of Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo.
According to Variety, Moana 2‘s box office has now surpᴀssed $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 milestone places the sequel as the third highest grossing Disney film this year, behind Inside Out 2 and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. Moreover, its Thanksgiving release set a box office record with its $225M opening. Previously, Frozen II held 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 2 had a much stronger appeal across global markets, with particularly notable success in the United States, China, and Europe. The sequel’s box office success can be attributed to its wide theatrical release strategy versus streaming only on Disney+.
Compared to other current releases, Moana 2 stands out as a major box office success in 2024. It has outperformed other 2024 releases such as Mufasa: The Lion King, which grossed $542.3M worldwide, Wicked, which grossed $708.6M globally, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which just surpᴀssed its previous sequel’s $405M earnings at $419.9M. Moana 2 now joins the list of other billion-dollar animated hits like The Lion King (2019) and The 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 change Moana 2 from 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 mᴀssive potential of theatrical releases for family-friendly films. The ability for Moana’s franchise 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.
Source: Variety
