Hollywood Breaks Records with Blockbuster Triple Threat
Thanksgiving at the box office this year looks a lot like Christmas.
The release of DreamWorks Animation’s "Moana 2" resulted in a tidal wave of moviegoers, setting all-time highs for a five-day Thanksgiving release
"Moana 2" brought in US$221 million in ticket sales, exceeding expectations and smashing records.
That wasn’t all – musicals "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" also delivered impressive results, adding US$117.5 million and US$44 million respectively, demonstrating a rare phenomenon: three blockbusters dominating the box office simultaneously.
“Moana 2” soared past previous Thanksgiving records.
“We’re very optimistic that this weekend is the heart of what we believe is a full-on charge into the future,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
This triumph followed a challenging period for the American cinema with recent years marked by pandemic closures, labor strikes, and a shift to streaming services.
Box office growth signals a promising future. “
"The remaining quarter of this year looks very promising and then on into 2025 and 2026. We’re hoping next year is the first kind of normal year this industry has had in a long time," O’Leary said.
It seems a cluster of blockbusters can create a rising tide that lifts all theatrical releases.
‘Bleachbusters versus Blockbusters." During
Instead of
Rivalry may be beneficial to drastically increase ticket sales.
What were the three major films that dominated the Thanksgiving box office?
## Hollywood Breaks Records with Blockbuster Triple Threat
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today isrenowned film critic, Sarah Jones, to discuss the record-breaking Thanksgiving box office. Sarah, this year’s Thanksgiving weekend was a real bonanza for Hollywood, wasn’t it?
**Sarah Jones:** Absolutely! This Thanksgiving weekend was a phenomenal comeback for the movie industry.
**Host:** We saw three major films – “Moana 2,” “Wicked,” and “Gladiator 2” – all dominating the box office. Can you give us a glimpse of the numbers?
**Sarah Jones:** “Moana 2” takes the lead with a stunning $221 million opening weekend, setting a new record [[1](https://apnews.com/article/moana-2-wicked-gladiator-glicked-box-office-476688b7bf24edab84e899519e426113)]. “Wicked” followed closely behind, and “Gladiator 2” rounded out the trio, driving the overall weekend ticket sales to over $400 million. This is a historic achievement, especially considering the challenges the industry has faced in recent years.
**Host:** Hollywood has certainly had its share of struggles recently.
**Sarah Jones:** That’s right. Between the pandemic, production halts, and the rise of streaming services, the theater experience was really threatened. But this weekend shows that there’s still a powerful allure to seeing a film on the big screen, especially when there are this many exciting blockbusters to choose from.
**Host:** Do you see this as a turning point for the industry?
**Sarah Jones:** I certainly hope so. Audiences are clearly eager for compelling cinematic experiences, and studios are responding with high-quality productions. This Thanksgiving weekend could be a sign of brighter days ahead for Hollywood.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Sarah. This is definitely a weekend to remember for film lovers!
