Walt Disney Animation Studios has scored its biggest domestic animation debut of all time with Moana 2.
(The discrepancy is based on “Hollywood accounting” that counts a five-day opening only if it runs Wednesday-Sunday, and not Friday-Tuesday as was the case of The Lion King.)
But however you view it, Moana 2 is a major hit for Disney, and likely a huge relief for its storied animation studio after flops like Wish and Strange World.
The studio is also touting that Moana 2 delivered the second-highest animated weekends of all time in Italy and Brazil.
Further, Walt Disney Animation Studios recorded its best-ever launch across the Latin America region, as well as 30 individual markets worldwide, including France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico.
With Moana 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios achieved its largest-ever domestic animation debut. Frozen II, which debuted with a three-day opening of $130 million and a five-day opening of $163 million, was surpassed by the movie’s three-day weekend debut of $135 million and five-day total of $221 million, both of which set records for a WDAS film.
Additionally, Disney is asserting these other domestic records.
Thanksgiving Weekend was the biggest ever.
greatest Thanksgiving debut.
$28 million on Thanksgiving Day, the biggest.
$54 million was the highest Black Friday box office total ever.
The largest opening in history for five days.
The studio is surpassing Super Mario Bros. to hold the record for the largest five-day opening ever. Despite earning $204 million, the film fell short of the $243 million gross from the five-day opening of the Lion King remake. The disparity stems from “Hollywood accounting,” which only counts a five-day opening if it takes place Wednesday through Sunday rather than Friday through Tuesday, as was the case with The Lion King. ).
Whatever your opinion, Moana 2 is a huge success for Disney and probably a welcome reprieve for the venerable animation studio following failures like Wish and Strange World. The Lion King ($191.8m), Incredibles 2 ($182.7m), Inside Out 2 ($154.2m), and Super Mario Bros. are the top five animated films ever, with the film’s three-day launch of $135.5m ranking fifth. The film costs $146.04m.
The international competition was excellent as well. With $165 million reported internationally, Disney’s total for this weekend is $386 million. France was the largest foreign market, with $18.8 million in box office receipts. According to Disney, it was the most animated opening weekend ever in that nation. Additionally, Moana 2 produced the second-highest animated weekends ever in Brazil and Italy, according to the studio.
In addition, Walt Disney Animation Studios launched in 30 different markets worldwide, including France, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico, and the Latin American region saw its best-ever launch. French markets ($18.8m), the U.S. K. . ($15.5m), South Korea ($9.1m), Australia ($8.3m), Brazil ($7.5m), China ($6.5m), Mexico ($11.1m), Germany ($10.5m), Italy ($9.3m), and Spain ($5.5m).
