Moana 2 is set to continue its winning streak this weekend, eyeing a $60M second frame, which would be an absolute mind-blowing record for a No. 1-ranking title. This comes despite the traditionally slow post-Thanksgiving period, where audiences are distracted by holiday activities.
The previous high for this frame was in 2019, when Frozen 2 took the top spot with a $35.1M third-weekend take. However, Moana 2’s second weekend is looking to be around -57%, similar to its first weekend. This would mark a notable comeback for the film.
In contrast, studios often sidestep releasing new tentpole openings during this time period. The last notable debut was in 2003, when Tom Cruise’s epic The Last Samurai opened with $24.2M. AMC Theatres’ Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé also opened to a notable $21.8M last year.
However, Moana 2 is looking strong, with its seven-day running total already reaching $239.3M. Universal’s Wicked is also performing well, with a running total of $275.8M, while Paramount’s Gladiator II has done $116.5M domestically.
A new wide entry, Prathyangira Cinemas’ Pushpa 2 – The Rule, is booked at 1,245 theaters and has strong advance ticket sales. It’s expected to open with a well-over-$10M start, making it a contender for the top spot.
On the other hand, A24’s R-rated party horror-comedy Y2K, directed by Kyle Mooney, stars Rachel Zegler and has forecasted $3M-$5M at 2,100 theaters. Additionally, Briarcliff Entertainment’s Frank Grillo horror movie Werewolves is booked at 1,351 theaters with a projection in the low single digits.
Many predict that Wicked will perform better than expected, with some forecasting a week 3 total of $40-50M. However, others think Moana 2 may have a worse drop and take the top spot by only a couple million dollars.
Source: https://deadline.com/2024/12/moana-2-box-office-second-weekend-y2k-pushpa-2-the-rule-1236194472