‘Moana 2,' ‘Wicked' and ‘Gladiator II' hit box office trifecta for Thanksgiving weekend

Instead of relaxing post-Thanksgiving, Americans flocked to movie theaters, driven by the release of Disney’s ‘Moana 2’ alongside ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II,’ which significantly boosted the domestic box office. These three blockbuster films broke the five-day opening weekend record, previously set in 2018, skyrocketing to an estimated $420 million. ‘Moana 2’ alone set a new record for the highest-grossing five-day opening with $221 million, surpassing ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ from earlier in the year.

“All three of these films seem to draw massive attention to the movie theater experience.” With unexpected box office success, the films reshaped expectations for the year, contributing greatly to the cinematic industry’s holiday achievements.

Universal’s ‘Wicked’ grossed $262.4 million after earning $80 million over the weekend. Paramount’s ‘Gladiator II,’ with a total of $111.2 million, added $30.7 million to that tally within the weekend. Both films opened on November 22, sparking a trend dubbed ‘Glicked,’ reminiscent of the previous ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon.

The Christmas action movie ‘Red One’ secured the fourth spot, earning $12.89 million in its third weekend, followed by ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ with $3.27 million in its second weekend. The box office is expected to continue benefiting from these major releases. ‘Gladiator II’ faces no direct competition until mid-December, while ‘Moana 2’ won’t have an animated contender until December 20 with the release of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King.’

Interactive showings of ‘Wicked,’ allowing audience participation, are set to begin December 25 in 1,000 North American theaters. Some moviegoers, unable to purchase advanced tickets, are likely to attend in the coming weeks. Theater companies focused on theatrical marketing to appeal to diverse audiences interested in epic action, musical fantasy, and animated adventures.

The coexistence of theater screens with streaming services was noted as complementary, enhancing a movie’s long-term success. “That was additive and complementary: having the big screen and the small screen working together to build potential revenue and viewership.”