Moana 2has thrived at the box office since its release, and it is now preparing to pass a truly magnificent threshold. Led byreturning cast members fromMoana, 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 byVariety, the hit sequel hasofficially 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 asa warning to Disneyabout the dangers of pivoting too far into the world of streaming.
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 originalMoanaearned just $643 millionworldwide with a domestic take of $249 million. That represented an entire run, as opposed toMoana 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:
$249 million
$332 million
$643 million
$856 million
$425 million (so far)
$960 million (so far)
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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, andMoana 2rounded out the top 5 worldwide, while the year’s worst flops were filled with original movies.Megalopolis,Argylle,Fly Me To The Moon, andHerewere 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 iswhenMoana 3will be confirmed.
Moana 2
Cast
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.
