MONDAY UPDATE with Moana 2 actuals: Now that Sunday’s actuals are in, Disney’s Moana 2 has surfed even higher across its launch frame domestically, swelling the global start to $389M. That’s a new milestone as Disney confirmed the phenom has posted the highest ever reported animated opening weekend at the global box office, overtaking the previous record held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($377M, which likewise included a 5-day domestic start).
We understand that Dis didn’t call out the record yesterday because the studio wanted to wait until the actuals were tallied, particularly given there were no holidays overseas and that estimates were dependent on family weekend play.
International came in slightly lower than estimated, at $163.8M, but this has not affected the host of Moana 2 milestones (see below for the weekend roundup).
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PREVIOUS, SUNDAY: Disney’s Moana 2 has shattered expectations with a $386.3M global opening. Of that, $221M is from the record domestic Thanksgiving stretch, and $165.3M from 48 material markets at the international box office. Chee hoo indeed!
Worldwide, the Dwayne Johnson/Auli’i Cravalho-starrer nabbed the 2nd highest opening weekend of the year-to-date, behind only Deadpool & Wolverine. The same stat goes for international where there was over-performance in all corners. This despite no key holidays. As we reported throughout the weekend, Moana 2 rode an upward curve, with early overseas numbers continuing to point to upside.
Overall, it was a busy weekend overseas with the continued runs of Universal’s Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II which each continue to see strong play (details below).
As for newcomer Moana 2, the sequel landed No. 1 starts in every market (save China which has a strong local title in play — still, audience scores there are widely positive). In France, Moana 2 reps the biggest animated opening of all time. Same goes for Poland, UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Nigeria, Serbia, Turkey and more.
Highlights for Walt Disney Animation Studios include its biggest opening of all time across the Latin America region, as well as in France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and others. Moana 2 logged the 2nd highest WDAS opening ever in Germany, Spain, UK & Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and more. Australia delivered the top WDAS or Pixar opening weekend of all time; and Korea, amid disruption from the biggest snowstorm since 1907, delivered the 2nd highest WDAS launch ever.
The first Moana, which was on a staggered overseas release pattern back in 2016, did $64.7M abroad in like-for-like markets at today’s rates. It was original IP at the time but since has gained huge awareness through ancillary and on Disney+.
In total this weekend, the Top 10 offshore Moana 2 markets are France ($18.8M), UK ($15.5M), Mexico ($11.1M), Germany ($10.5M), Italy ($9.3M), Korea ($9.1M), Australia ($8.3M), Brazil ($7.5M), China ($6.5M) and Spain ($5.5M).
There’s smooth sailing ahead for Moana 2, with no major wide releases next session. Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand join the mix on Friday.
Turning to Wicked, the Cynthia Erivo/Ariana Grande-starrer has raised its global cume to $359.3M after two weekends. Of that, $97M is from 61 overseas markets where several key plays are still to release including France, China, Germany and Japan. This frame added $29M (-39% excluding previews).
Overseas, the Jon M. Chu-directed pic is running in-line with Wonka, Fantastic Beasts 3, Mamma Mia 2 and The Little Mermaid, and above Les Misérables at the same point.
In the UK & Ireland, Wicked ranked No. 2 behind Moana’s start, and was down just 38%; the cume through Sunday is an estimated $36M, in-line with Frozen 2 and Mamma Mia 2, and above Aladdin, Wonka, The Jungle Book, Les Misérables and The Little Mermaid at the same point.
Australia gave the witches terrific Saturday and Sunday holds for a running cume of $12.9M. That’s bigger than the full runs of Maleficent and Fantastic Beasts 3, and tracks higher than key comps including Frozen 2, Wonka, Aladdin and Mamma Mia 2 at the same point in play.
In Korea, Elphaba and Glinda have cumed $8.5M, which is 75% above The Greatest Showman and almost triple Barbie, having surpassed the lifetime of The Little Mermaid and Maleficent this week.
Mexico’s $6.7M through Sunday is on par with The Greatest Showman at the same point in release, after having surpassed the total runs of several comps on opening weekend.
Philippines rounds out the Top 5 so far with $3.5M, above Bohemian Rhapsody at the same point.
Meanwhile, In its third weekend of international play, Paramount’s Gladiator II is now at $208.8M overseas, for a global running total of $320M. The Ridley Scott epic added $27.2M in 64 markets this frame (a hold of -45%).
The UK continues to lead all play at $29.7M, followed by France ($22.5M), Spain ($15M), Mexico ($12.9M) and Australia ($11.5M).
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Red One (WB): $5M intl weekend (75 markets); $72.6M intl cume/$148.7M global
Venom: The Last Dance (SNY): $3.8M intl weekend (66 markets); $330.3M intl cume/$468.2M global
The Wild Robot (UNI): $1.3M intl weekend (80 markets); $179.1M intl cume/$321.6M global
I’m Still Here (SNY): $902K Brazil weekend; $8.1M Brazil cume
Smile 2 (PAR): $381K intl weekend (37 markets); $68.9M intl cume/$137.6M global