'Moana 2' Continues to Rule the Box Office, 'Wicked' Follows Closely

Movie

After a record-breaking Thanksgiving debut, Disney's animated sequel continues to dominate the box office, along with Jon M. Chu's musical film and Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II'.

Dec 9, 2024

AceShowbiz - Animated adventure "Moana 2" has firmly anchored itself at the top of the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend, raking in an additional $52 million. This robust showing has propelled its domestic gross to an impressive $300 million, while globally, it has cruised past the $600 million milestone. The film follows the continued adventures of Moana, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, and Maui, voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, as they embark on a daring journey across Oceania.

Walt Disney Animation has another reason to celebrate, as this success eclipses the early global haul of its predecessor and sets a new record for the weekend following Thanksgiving. The previous champion in this timeframe was "Frozen II". Overseas, the animated blockbuster scored $103.4 million, contributing to its status as one of the top films of the year.

Holding strong at No. 2 is Universal's "Wicked", which generated $34.9 million in its third weekend from 3,885 locations. This blockbuster adaptation of the Broadway musical has charmed its way to a domestic cume of $320.5 million and a global total of $455.5 million. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, "Wicked follows" the transformative journeys of Elphaba and Glinda, offering a fresh take on the beloved story.

Coming in third is Paramount's "Gladiator II", earning $12.5 million domestically and amassing $132.7 million in total. Directed by Ridley Scott, this epic continues the tale of ancient Rome, focusing on Lucius' struggle against oppressive rulers in pursuit of restoring honor to the Empire.

Editors' Pick

Rounding out the top five, Jake Kasdan's "Red One" secured fourth place with $7 million, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in a seasonal action comedy, while India's "Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2" broke into the fifth spot with $9.3 million domestically.

Notably, the 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" earned $4.4 million at just 165 theaters, underscoring the film’s continuing appeal. Additionally, A24's mixed reception with "Y2K" debut sparked discussions about trends in niche horror-comedies.

These box office triumphs are a testament to the diverse range of cinematic experiences captivating audiences today, ensuring that the closing chapter of this year's movie season is nothing short of spectacular.

Top 10 of North American Box Office (Dec. 06-08, 2024):