Black Friday has become synonymous not only with shopping extravaganzas but also with significant box office performances in the film industry. This year, the iconic Friday has set out to break all previous records, with projections indicating a staggering $107 million in ticket sales across all films. Leading the charge is Disney’s highly anticipated sequel, Moana 2, which has captured audiences’ attention and reignited the spirit of cinematic outings during the holiday season. The day’s earnings could even elevate it to the pinnacle of highest-grossing days of 2024 thus far, potentially overshadowing the impressive $118.3 million thrown down by blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine earlier this year.
The excitement surrounding Moana 2 is palpable, as evidenced by the prolonged wait times reported at major theater chains like AMC. At one point, moviegoers were met with a 13-minute delay in securing tickets, a symptom of a ‘rich-man’s problem’ that bespeaks the overwhelming desire to see this family-friendly adventure. With such a robust demand, projections from Comscore suggest that Black Friday’s earnings will undoubtedly surpass the prior record of $85 million, which was set in 2013 during the release of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Experts project Moana 2 to rake in approximately $55 million, potentially making history as the highest-grossing film ever on Black Friday, far surpassing the $34.1 million earned by Frozen II in 2019. This feat not only illustrates Moana 2’s appeal but also indicates a growing trend in the holiday box office potential that films can capitalize on. The relentless enthusiasm for this sequel is arguably propelling it toward historical box office heights, with estimates suggesting a total Thanksgiving weekend gross of over $200 million.
Other significant titles competing for audience attention include Universal’s Wicked, projected to earn around $27 million, and Paramount’s Gladiator II, which is estimated to generate about $12.6 million. Such impressive figures further highlight a robust film market during the holiday season, where multiple films can thrive concurrently. Wicked, particularly, could position itself as the fourth highest earner over the holiday frame, calculating to an impressive $105.6 million, while Gladiator II eyes a respectable $45 million haul.
Adding another layer to this blockbuster weekend is Dwayne Johnson, who has achieved a remarkable milestone by being the first Hollywood leading star to have two films open at number one in consecutive weeks. With both Moana 2 and Red One topping the charts, Johnson’s rapid ascent demonstrates not just his star power but also the lucrative opportunities presented during this peak cinema season.
This year’s Black Friday has solidified itself as an event not just for retail but for cinematic triumphs, marking a critical point in the film industry calendar and showcasing the dominance of well-loved franchises and star power. As audiences flock to theaters, the box office is poised to reap the benefits, with Moana 2 leading the way into what seems to be an unforgettable film season.