Moana 2 has thrived at the box office since its release, and it is now preparing to pass a truly magnificent threshold. Led by returning cast members from Moana, the movie stars Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Maui), as they reunite to find the island of Motufetu. With a $150 million budget, the movie was a significant investment by Disney, which originally saw the project as a potential Disney+ show. After diverting to theaters, Disney has been rewarded with immense success at the box office.
According to a report by Variety, the hit sequel has officially earned $960 million worldwide, with $425 million coming from North America. Sitting at the fourth overall spot in its sixth weekend, it ushered in $12.3 million domestically this weekend alone. It is currently well on its way to the coveted $1 billion mark, though it is not yet known how many weeks it will take.
What The $1 Billion Mark Will Mean For Moana 2
This Exposes The Failure Of The Streaming Model
Anytime a movie crosses the $1 billion mark, it is an incredible accomplishment that proves its viability. Audiences and critics generally agreed on the movie’s merits, the characters proved to be enthralling, and the cinematographic efforts earned immense praise. It can even provide studios with a template for how to earn an even greater profit going forward. Moana 2‘s box office success, however, also serves as a warning to Disney about the dangers of pivoting too far into the world of streaming.
An incredible accomplishment that might never have happened.
Because this began as a streaming series, it could have simply dropped on Disney+. In an instant, it would have been available to all viewers. If so, Disney+ would have gained some subscribers, but it is extremely unlikely that those new subscriptions would amount to the $1 billion total that this movie will almost certainly be basking in. Even aside from this sheer profit, it serves as yet another reminder that Disney remains the king of animation. Boasting Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 as $1 billion movies in a year is an incredible accomplishment that might never have happened.
Our Take On Moana 2’s Success
Hollywood Is In A Curious Position
When it was first released in 2016, the original Moana earned just $643 million worldwide with a domestic take of $249 million. That represented an entire run, as opposed to Moana 2‘s partially completed theatrical debut. Just eight years later, the sequel is likely to cross $1 billion. Inflation can account for that change, but only partly. The original would have made $856 million when adjusted, while the sequel has already crossed $960 million. Check out the chart below to see the change in full:
|
Title |
Domestic Box Office |
Domestic Adjusted for Inflation |
Worldwide Box Office |
Worldwide Adjusted for Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Moana (2016) |
$249 million |
$332 million |
$643 million |
$856 million |
|
Moana 2 (2024) |
$425 million (so far) |
N/A |
$960 million (so far) |
N/A |
2024 was a year for sequels, adaptations, and prequels, as the top 10 movies were filled with them. Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Wicked, Despicable Me 4, and Moana 2 rounded out the top 5 worldwide, while the year’s worst flops were filled with original movies. Megalopolis, Argylle, Fly Me To The Moon, and Here were all original and interesting concepts that collapsed in theaters. With sequels and prequels on the rise and thriving, while all else fails, the only question remaining is when Moana 3 will be confirmed.
Source: Variety
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
- Release Date
-
November 27, 2024
- Runtime
-
100 Minutes
- Cast
-
Auli’i Cravalho
, Dwayne Johnson
, Alan Tudyk
, Rachel House
, Temuera Morrison
, Nicole Scherzinger
, Hualālai Chung
, David Fane
, Rose Matafeo
, Awhimai Fraser
, Gerald Ramsey
, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda - Character(s)
-
Moana
, Maui
, Hei Hei
, Tala
, Chief Tui
, Sina
, Moni
, Kele
, Loto
, Matangi
, Tautai Vasa
, Simea - Director
-
David G. Derrick Jr.
, Jason Hand
, Dana Ledoux Miller - Writers
-
Dana Ledoux Miller
, Jared Bush
, Jason Hand
, Ron Clements
, John Musker - Studio(s)
-
Walt Disney Pictures
, Walt Disney Animation Studios - Distributor(s)
-
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures