Moana 2 Smashes Frozen 2 Records with Historic Thanksgiving Box Office Debut

Disney’s Moana 2 is making waves at the box office, setting records left and right over the Thanksgiving weekend. The highly-anticipated sequel didn’t just meet expectations—it blew them out of the water.

According to Deadline, Moana 2 raked in a jaw-dropping $54.5 million on Black Friday alone, surpassing the previous record-holder, Frozen 2, which earned $34.1 million on the same day.

Over the full five-day Thanksgiving stretch, Moana 2 is projected to bring in an unprecedented $215 to $220 million, crushing Frozen 2’s previous record of $125 million for the same timeframe. If those numbers hold, Moana 2 will claim the title of the biggest Thanksgiving five-day box office performance of all time, dethroning The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which previously held the crown with $204.6 million.

The sequel’s three-day total is also on track to hit $140 million, marking the second-best debut for Dwayne Johnson after Furious 7 ($147.1 million). Clearly, the return of Moana and Maui is striking a chord with audiences.

And Moana 2 isn’t the only one pulling its weight this holiday weekend. Wicked is soaring high with an estimated $118 million over the five-day stretch, making it the third-best Thanksgiving performance ever, right behind Frozen 2 and Moana 2. Its $32 million Black Friday haul secures it a spot among the top three Black Friday performers.

Meanwhile, Gladiator 2 continues to show its strength, bringing in $112.2 million over the weekend, pushing its worldwide total to $278 million. The success of Gladiator 2 is also historic for star Denzel Washington, marking his highest-grossing film to date, surpassing American Gangster’s $270 million.

Rounding out the weekend’s top five are Red One, which added $19 million to its total for a three-week haul of $76.3 million, and Best Christmas Pageant Ever, pulling in $5 million during its fourth week, for a total of $32.2 million.

The box office is thriving across the board, proving there’s room for multiple blockbusters this holiday season.