Moana 2 Set to Sail into Theaters: Projected Box Office and Release Details

After an eight-year wait, Disney is set to release the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 hit animated film, “Moana.” Titled “Moana 2,” the movie is scheduled to hit theaters on November 27, 2024, coinciding with the Thanksgiving weekend in the United States.

The original “Moana” was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $248.7 million domestically and $687.2 million globally. It also became the most streamed film of all time on Disney Plus as of 2023. Given this success, expectations are high for the sequel, with Deadline projecting an opening weekend of $105 million to $115 million over the five-day Thanksgiving period. This would be one of the highest openings for a Disney animated film since “Frozen” in 2013.

The release date of “Moana 2” has prompted other studios to adjust their schedules. Universal, for instance, has moved the release of “Wicked” from November 27 to November 22, 2024, to avoid direct competition. Similarly, “Wicked Part Two” has been rescheduled from November 26, 2025, to November 21, 2025, to steer clear of “Zootopia 2“.

Pre-sales for “Moana 2” are expected to start soon, possibly within the next week or after the release of “Venom: The Last Dance,” which debuts in theaters on October 25, 2024. Fans and analysts are eager to see how the film will perform at the box office, especially given the mixed results of recent Disney animated films during the pandemic. Films like “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Encanto,” and “Strange World” faced various challenges, including reduced box office earnings and shifts in consumer preferences towards streaming.

Despite these challenges, there is optimism that “Moana 2” will perform well, particularly during the holiday season. The film’s marketing campaign is in full swing, with multiple trailers and teasers released in recent days, generating significant buzz among fans.