New York witnessed a remarkable phenomenon at the box office this year. "Moana 2" emerged as a true powerhouse, attracting a massive wave of moviegoers over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. According to studio estimates on Sunday, it raked in an astonishing $221 million in ticket sales. This, combined with the success of "Wicked" and "Gladiator II", created an unprecedented weekend in cinemas, resembling the late December blockbuster confluence.

The Thanksgiving Weekend Box Office Surge: "Moana 2" and Beyond

Disney's "Moana 2": A Global Sensation

Expectations for Walt Disney Co.'s "Moana 2" were sky-high. Originally planned as a Disney+ series, it was redirected to the big screen, and it exceeded all predictions. Its five-day opening set a new record for Thanksgiving moviegoing. The previous best was $125 million for "Frozen 2" in 2019. "Moana 2" added $165.3 million internationally, bringing its global total to $386 million, making it the second-best global launch of the year. This shows the enduring appeal of Disney's animated franchises and the power of the big screen.Moreover, the original "Moana" was a huge success on Disney+, with $680 million in box office in 2016. The return of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as the voices of Moana and Maui added to the excitement. It just goes to show that the big screen and small screen can work together harmoniously, rather than being adversarial.

The Sensation that is "Wicked"

"Wicked" continued to make waves during the Thanksgiving weekend. Universal Pictures' musical brought in $117.5 million over five days, pushing its two-week global total to $359.2 million. Not accounting for inflation, it is now the highest grossing Broadway adaptation, surpassing "Grease". This demonstrates the enduring popularity of musicals and the ability of Universal Pictures to deliver a hit.Even without accounting for inflation, "Wicked" has achieved remarkable success, showing that there is a strong demand for quality musicals in theaters.

"Gladiator II": A Sequel with Potential

Ridley Scott's "Gladiator II" also held its own, dipping 44% from its opening weekend. It collected $44 million in its second weekend, with a worldwide total of $320 million. While its $250 million price tag makes profitability a challenge, it has still managed to attract a significant audience.This sequel shows that audiences are still interested in epic historical dramas and the talent of Ridley Scott. It remains to be seen how "Gladiator II" will perform in the long run, but it has certainly made an impact in its opening weeks.The three films combined drove the overall box office to a record $420 million in Thanksgiving weekend ticket sales, more than $100 million above pre-pandemic levels. This is a testament to the resilience of the movie industry and the power of blockbuster movies.Michael O'Leary, president and chief executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners, believes that this weekend is the start of a full-on charge into the future. The remaining quarter of the year looks promising, and 2025 and 2026 hold great potential.In recent years, studios have typically tried to space out their biggest releases. However, the success of "Moana 2", "Wicked", and "Gladiator II" shows that competition can be good for the movies, the studios, and the theater owners.After such large debuts, "Moana 2" and "Wicked" are likely to continue to drive moviegoing through December. The only question is whether this year's Christmas movies can match the Thanksgiving lineup.Among the movies aiming for the holiday corridor are Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King", Paramount's "Sonic the Hedgehog 3", and Searchlight's "A Complete Unknown" with Timothée Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan. These movies will face a tough challenge in trying to compete with the Thanksgiving blockbusters.Overall, this Thanksgiving weekend was a triumphant one for the movie industry, showing the still-potent power of Hollywood's blockbuster machine. It is an exciting time for movie lovers, with a variety of exciting films on the horizon.