The Big Screen Beats the Slump: Thanksgiving Sees Historic Box Office Surge
“The Atlantic’s best holiday season is bringing in big returns for Hollywood
“Moana 2” sailed to a record-breaking $221 million at the domestic box office over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday, obliterating previous records for the holiday weekend.
Disney’s animated adventure, alongside Universal’s adaptation of “Wicked” and Paramount’s “Gladiator II,” proved a potent mismatched trio, powering the biggest Thanksgiving period on record with an estimated $422 million in total domestic earnings, surpassing the $315 million earned in 2018.
A Land Before Time’ for the Thanksgiving Weekend
Leading the Charge
“Moana 2” smashed expectations, securing the biggest five-day debut ever, surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The movie also achieved the thickest opening for a Disney animated film beating even “Frozen II’s” previous record.
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, exclaimed Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. “This is a moment to celebrate, and we’re thankful to everyone who helped make this movie a record-breaking debut.</ ");
This year, audiences proved to the level of their love for the familiar. “Moana 2” benefited from its predecessors widespread popularity and the current wave of popular nostalgia.
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## The Big Screen Beats the Slump: Thanksgiving Sees Historic Box Office Surge
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. This week, theaters across the country are buzzing with excitement as the Thanksgiving box office breaks records left and right. Joining us today to discuss this Hollywood miracle is film analyst, Sarah Jones. Sarah, welcome to the show.
**Sarah Jones:** Thanks for having me. It’s been an incredible weekend at the box office, that’s for sure.
**Host:** Absolutely! “Moana 2″ seems to be leading the charge, smashing previous box office records with a staggering $221 million over the five-day holiday weekend. [[1](https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/11/30/moana-2-riding-record-wave-at-thanksgiving-weekend-box-office/)]What do you think are the factors behind this success?
**Sarah Jones:** Well, the “Moana” franchise already had a huge built-in audience, thanks to the original film’s immense popularity. Combine that with excellent marketing, positive reviews, and the perfect timing of a family-friendly animated adventure during the holiday season, and you have a recipe for a box office juggernaut.
**Host:** And “Moana 2” wasn’t alone in driving these record numbers. We also saw strong performances from “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.” What can you tell us about those films’ success?
**Sarah Jones:** Absolutely. It’s remarkable to see such a diverse range of films resonating with audiences. “Wicked” benefited from both the enduring popularity of the Broadway musical and the anticipation surrounding its cinematic adaptation. As for “Gladiator II,” the nostalgia factor for the original film, coupled with the buzz surrounding Russell Crowe’s return, proved to be a winning combination.
**Host:** This Thanksgiving weekend sure painted a rosy picture for the film industry. Do you see this momentum continuing into the holiday season?
**Sarah Jones:** I definitely do. The strong lineup of films releasing in December suggests we could be looking at a record-breaking holiday season overall.
**Host:** Excellent news for Hollywood, and for movie lovers everywhere. Sarah Jones, thank you for sharing your insights with us today.
**Sarah Jones:** My pleasure. We’re in for a thrilling ride at the movies this holiday season!
