Moana 2 Crosses $1 Billion at the Global Box Office!

It’s official: Disney’s “Moana 2” has crossed the $1 billion mark at the box office worldwide, joining the ranks of 2024’s top-grossing films. That gives evidence of the tremendous acceptance of the film by a wide audience and the popularity of its characters.

Moana 2″ came out on November 27, 2024. It brought back Moana and the demigod Maui, voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, respectively. The sequel follows the adventures of the title character and Maui with new characters and a deeper dive into Polynesian culture. Of importance, the film was directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, with Miller making history as the first Samoan woman to direct a major studio feature.

That journey to the billion-dollar club kicked off with an opening weekend record: On its five-day Thanksgiving weekend, “Moana 2” hauled in $221 million in the United States-marking the biggest five- and five-day Thanksgiving weekend openings. International numbers were decent too: $386 million in that period for the second-biggest global film opening of the year.

By January 8, 2025, the film had grossed $960 million worldwide, with domestic earnings of $427 million and international markets adding $532 million. This made “Moana 2” the fourth-highest-grossing movie of 2024 globally, behind only “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2.”

Moana 2″ is testimony to Disney’s resolve to tell stories that are universal in nature across different cultures. Animators, choreographers, and consultants of Pasifika origin were so much a part of the filmmaking process act of respect for the community that was palpable. According to Co-Director Dana Ledoux Miller, “It’s incredibly important to represent Pasifika voices both in front of and behind the camera.”.

Not to mention, looking ahead, the movie’s ending leaves room for a third and some say that the directors have mentioned some characters “have more to say.” Additionally, a live-action “Moana” is also in the works, starring Catherine Laga’aia as the new Moana.

In all, the achievement of “Moana 2” to a gross of over $1 billion at the global box office evidences the film’s global success, and that one will find a continuation which will do very well. Combining adventure, music, and cultural depth, here’s a film with the worldwide catch that cements Disney’s position in animation.