Disney's ‘Moana 2’ is poised to break all Thanksgiving box office records after a blockbuster debut, pulling in over $57 million on its Wednesday opening.

Initially conceived as a Disney+ series before being revamped into a theatrical release, the sequel faced mixed critical reception ahead of its premiere. Despite this, audiences have been flocking to theaters, with families eager to experience the follow-up to the beloved original.

EXPLORE: Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Of ‘Moana 2’

Reports indicate that the film earned $57.5 million on its first day alone and is on track to surpass $175 million in its first five days of release. This would cement ‘Moana 2’ as the biggest Thanksgiving weekend debut of all time, outpacing previous record-holders like ‘Frozen II’ ($125 million) and ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ ($109 million).

The film’s opening day numbers are already historic, ranking it as the third-highest for an animated movie, trailing only ‘Incredibles 2’ ($71 million) and 2024s ‘Inside Out 2’ ($63 million). Globally, the film has already amassed $66 million, showcasing its widespread appeal.

‘Moana 2’ reunites Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Maui, the charismatic demigod, with Auli’i Cravalho reprising her role as the titular Moana. The original 2016 film followed the spirited young heroine on a perilous voyage to save her people, accompanied by Maui as her reluctant guide. The movie became a cultural phenomenon, earning over $680 million worldwide.

At the sequel's premiere, Johnson encouraged fans to fully immerse themselves in the experience, especially when it comes to the music.

“If you love music, that’s part of the fun,” Johnson told BBC News. “Sing! You’ve spent your hard-earned money on a ticket, and you’re here to enjoy a musical—so go ahead and sing along.”

This lighthearted encouragement stands in contrast to the recent controversy surrounding the release of the musical ‘Wicked.’ In a notable move, AMC Theatres discouraged audiences from singing along during screenings of the highly anticipated film adaptation, urging moviegoers to respect others' viewing experiences.

Despite this, ‘Wicked,’ starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is also enjoying a monumental box office run since its November 22 debut. The film is projected to rake in over $240 million domestically by the end of its opening week.

Meanwhile, ‘Gladiator 2,’ featuring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal, continues its impressive theatrical run, bringing in more than $141 million in the U.S. alone.

With such standout performances across the box office, ‘Moana 2’ leads the charge this holiday season.

MORE NEWS