Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Box Office Fueled by Blockbuster Hits
Moviegoers flocked to theaters this Thanksgiving, pushing the five-day box office haul to a historic $420 million, marking the biggest Thanksgiving weekend in cinematic history.
‘Moana 2’ Leads the Charge with Exceptional Performance
Disney’s animated sequel, “Moana 2,” stormed the box office with an astounding $221 million in ticket sales for the five-day period. This significantly surpassed the initial projections of $100 million, signifying its overwhelming success with audiences. “Moana 2” also achieved the highest Thanksgiving opening weekend ever for a film, surpassing the previous record set by 2019’s “Frozen II,” which earned $125 million during the holiday period.
‘Wicked’ Continues its Enchanting Run
Universal’s big-screen adaptation of the Broadway smash hit, “Wicked,” continued its impressive run, adding another $117.5 million to its domestic box office This brings its total domestic earnings to circa $262.42 million. “Wicked” has also taken the crown as the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in domestic box office history. Globally, the film has grossed over $359 million after just 10 days in theaters.
‘Gladiator II’ Muscles into Theater Audiences
Paramount’s “Gladiator II” followed suit, contributing $44 million to this weekend’s massive box office haul. This brings its domestic total to over $111.2 million after such a short run. The sequel, which opened internationally earlier this month, has already crossed the $320 million mark globally.
indústria cinematografica “This year’s Thanksgiving box office surge doesn’t just belong to these individual blockbusters; it’s a testament to the enduring power of cinema experience,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Johan
Fandango.
“When one film surpasses expectations the way ‘Moana 2’ did, that’s enthusiastic. When fellow tentpole movies like ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ excel concurrently, it’s a powerful reminder that going to the movies remains a cherished tradition for audiences.”
Thanksgiving Box Office Quickly Rebounds After Difficult Period
This Thanksgiving weekend, the Thanksgiving weekend haul surpassed $200 million for the first time since 2019, indicating a strong recovery for cinemas after a period of uncertainty. Notably, prior to this weekend, only one Thanksgiving period in history had seen total revenue exceeding $300 million.
The previous record holder was 2018, with a lineup including “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Creed II” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”, those films collectively championed a cumulative $315 million box office. Since then, the industry navigated the challenges of dual labor strikes in Hollywood paired with pandemic-era fluctuations, adding another layer of complexity.
To put this year’s data in perspective, heading into this holiday period, the 2024 box office was trailing behind 2023 by 11%. Thanks to the impressive performance this Thanksgiving weekend, the gap has now narrowed to just 6.4%. The surge in box office success signalsStadium a strong season and impacts studios positively, who were anticipating this holiday weekend to be crucial for reaching a diverse audience.
– What implications does the success of theatrical releases during Thanksgiving weekend have for the future of moviegoing?
## Record-Breaking Blockbusters Fuel Thanksgiving Box Office Boom
**Host**: Welcome back to the show. This past Thanksgiving weekend saw moviegoers breaking records at the box office, with a staggering $422 million earned over the five-day period. Joining us to discuss this cinematic phenomenon is film industry analyst, Sarah Thompson. Sarah, welcome to the show.
**Sarah**: Thanks for having me.
**Host**: So Sarah, a whopping $422 million—that’s a new record for the Thanksgiving box office. What drove this surge in attendance?
**Sarah**: It’s a perfect storm of blockbuster releases. We had “Moana 2,” the highly anticipated sequel, which absolutely dominated with a $221 million five-day haul. That smashed initial projections and even surpassed ”Frozen II”‘s previous Thanksgiving opening weekend record. [[1](https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/thanksgiving-5-day-us-box-office-hitting-amazing-all-time-422m-high-amc-boss-adam-aron-declares-a-national-phenomenon/ar-AA1v2AOB)]
**Host**: “Moana 2” certainly seems to be capturing the hearts of audiences. What about the other films contributing to this record-breaking weekend?
**Sarah**: “Wicked” continued its magical run, adding another $117.5 million to its already impressive total. It’s now the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation domestically, and globally it’s on track to become a massive hit.
**Host**: And “Gladiator II” is holding its own, right?
**Sarah**: Definitely. It’s already grossed over $111 million domestically, and its international release earlier this month means it’s likely to keep climbing.
**Host**: It seems like families have embraced movies this Thanksgiving. What does this say about the future of theatrical releases?
**Sarah**: It’s a resounding vote of confidence in the moviegoing experience. People crave the shared excitement, the big screen, and the escape that theaters provide. This Thanksgiving weekend proves that films still have the power to draw crowds and create memories.
**Host**: Fascinating insights, Sarah. Thank you for joining us today and shedding light on this exciting time for the film industry.
**Sarah**: My pleasure.
