This Thanksgiving, Hollywood will offer a variety of blockbuster movies, including Gladiator II, Wicked, and Moana 2. These releases are expected to boost revenue over the holiday weekend, countering the industry's recent decline in earnings. In 2018, Thanksgiving saw record ticket sales of $315.6 million with hits like Ralph Breaks the Internet, Creed II, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Prepare for Disney's Moana 2 premiere on Nov. 27, expected to break records with a $125-150 million opening over five days, potentially earning the nickname "Moanapocalypse." If predictions hold, it could achieve a top Thanksgiving debut in the U.S. and the highest five-day Thanksgiving box office ever. The original Moana premiered to $82.1 million in 2016, becoming a beloved classic and the most streamed film in 2023. Also, anticipate the highly anticipated releases of Universal's Wicked and Paramount's Gladiator II on Nov. 22. Wicked is expected to open with $85 million, while Gladiator II is projected to open with $65 million or more. Both films aim for a successful opening weekend during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gladiator II and Wicked target a wide audience, including men, women, parents, and young adults. Moana 2 is expected to have broad family appeal. A rival executive suggests these movies could perform well together, potentially breaking Thanksgiving season records.
Thanksgiving could help reduce the year-over-year gap in box office revenue, with early estimates suggesting a potential revenue range for 2024 of $8.3 billion to $8.6 billion, narrowing the gap to 6% and 9%. Comscore's Paul Dergaragedian believes the upcoming holiday season could be a significant moment in box office history.