After the day of mercy action, in the waiting place at home, the United States choose to enjoy the cinematic experience in movie theaters. The spectacle of Disney's «Moana 2», together with the attraction of «Wicked» and «Gladiador II», gave a significant boost to the national rankings.
This trio of taquilla successes set a new record at the end of the opening week of five days, surpassing the previous mark of 315.6 million dollars sold in 2018, with an estimate of 420 million until Sunday. In particular, «Moana 2» recorded the mayor's record in five opening days, accumulating 221 million dollars domestically, surpassing «Super Mario Bros.», which had obtained 204.6 million in 2023.
Alan Bergman, co-president of Disney Entertainment, expressed his satisfaction: “'Moana 2' meets the growing expectations of our people this weekend, which is demonstrated by the phenomenon that has become 'Moana'”. Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore, commented on the strategy following the excellence of these films, signaling that, whether intentionally or accidentally, its launch together attracted a great deal of attention to theaters.
The three-movie model has generated a new perspective on the closing of the year in the cup, as little expected that this week's end Thanksgiving would earn the $420 million in rewards. «Wicked», by Universal Pictures, earned 262.4 million on the domestic market, adding another 80 million between Vienne and Domingo, while «Gladiador II», by Paramount Pictures, earned 111.2 million, with 30.7 millones in the same period.
All films, released on November 22, were released by “Glicked,” in a nod to the trend of “Barbenheimer” that has been successful with the enthusiasm of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” during the summer of 2023. In fourth lugar, « Red One», a navideña action film distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, recalled 12.89 million in its third weekend. This company is part of Warner Bros. Discovery, which is also the parent company of CNN.
Following “Red One” is Lionsgate’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which pulled in 3.27 million in its second weekend. With this great thanksgiving button, if the cup continues to thrive. The three most interesting films have the potential to maintain their presence on the signs and continue to attract audiences in the following weeks.
Daniel Loria, editorial director of The Boxoffice Company, mentioned that «Gladiador II» will not face direct jurisdiction until mid-December, when Sony's «Kraven El Cazador» opens. Likely, «Moana 2» will not meet rivals in family animated cinema until a week, when «Sonic 3: The Movie» and «Mufasa: El Rey León» are launched on December 20th. Additionally, starting December 25, around 1,000 North American films will host interactive screenings of “Wicked,” where audiences can sing along with the film.
Some moviegoers have experienced problems acquiring early admissions to movies, which could lead them to seek other times in the coming weeks, according to Michael O'Leary, president and chief executive of the National Association of Movie Theater Owners.
Reliving the cinematic experience is essential right now. Loria said Universal, Paramount and Disney focused their efforts on marketing campaigns that promoted movie theaters, which benefited the companies from exposure. According to data from The Boxoffice Company, 75% of the bulletins sold correspond to these three films released during the end of the week.
This allowed the films to appeal to different audiences: those interested in historical action, musical fantasy, and animated adventure. Dergarabedian added that the big-screen experience is complementary to streaming services, which can boost a film's wide-ranging outcome. “This is an additional and complementary relationship: for Disney, the big screen and the small screen work together to increase the potential ingredients and the number of viewers,” he said.
The post-Thank You Day ticket push reflects a clear trend toward revitalizing the traditional moviegoing experience, where audiences seek not only entertainment, but also moments shared in community. With the success of «Moana 2», «Wicked» and «Gladiador II», it seems that cinema continues to be a relevant place for popular culture, attracting audiences of all ages and preferences.
As we look ahead to the holidays, the film industry is gearing up for an exciting year ahead, filled with films that promise to capture viewers' attention and keep the momentum across the finish line. The combination of these excellent productions and well-implemented marketing strategies suggest that cinema continues to be a vital component of entertainment in contemporary society, offering audiences experiences that are more than you can enjoy at home.
