Moana 2 has set multiple records after sailing to a massive box-office opening over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Disney sequel has grossed a stunning $225.2 million across the five-day weekend at the US box office, marking the biggest five-day opening in history ahead of The Super Mario Bros Movie's $205.6 million.
Moana 2's three-day US debut of $139.7 million is the best-ever start for a Walt Disney Animation ahead of Frozen II's $130.2 million.
Worldwide, Moana 2 has already grossed $389 million which is the second-biggest global debut of the year behind Deadpool & Wolverine's $444.7 million bow.
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"Moana 2 has far surpassed our high expectations this weekend and is a testament to the phenomenon that Moana has become," Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman said (via Variety).
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"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."
Moana 2 helped power the US box office to $425 million across all movies over the Thanksgiving period, smashing past the previous record of $315 million in 2018.
Part of that saw Wicked add $118.2 million across the five-day weekend, lifting it to $263.1 million so far at the US box office and $360 million worldwide, while Gladiator II added $44 million for $111.2 million in the US and $320 million worldwide.
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With Auli'i Cravalho once again voicing the titular heroine, Moana 2 may have attracted a large crowd, but didn't fully convince critics.
Currently sitting at a 65% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the follow-up has landed a significantly lower rating and softer praise than its 2016 predecessor, Certified Fresh at 95%.
The score can go up — or further down — as more reviews come in. At present, film writers seem almost unanimously disappointed by the sequel, despite the stunning animation.
Moana 2 is out now in cinemas, while Moana is available to stream on Disney+.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
