Is Moana 2 really better than Wicked at the box office?

In the United States, on December 7, 2024, the animated film Moana 2 continued its strong performance at the box office during its second weekend of release. The movie, featuring voice talents of Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, is projected to bring in $50.8 million, which surpasses the earnings of the competing film Wicked, which is estimated to earn $32.7 million. Moana 2's impressive box office results underline its popularity with audiences, highlighting a successful sequel to the original film that was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2016. In comparison to newer releases, Moana 2's figures reveal that it has considerably outperformed them collectively. While several films debuted that weekend, none were able to break into the top five, indicating that the established franchise is holding strong against competition. The continued success of Moana 2 points to a broader trend where sequels, especially those tied to beloved original films, often dominate box office revenues. Other films in the competition that weekend include Gladiator II, expected to earn $12.9 million, and the Christmas action-adventure film Red One, projected to garner $7 million. New films like Solo Leveling-Reawakening and A24's Y2K horror comedy managed to earn only small sums—$2.1 million and $2 million, respectively—demonstrating the difficulties new releases face in gaining traction against established titles. Overall, the box office landscape this weekend reflects a sustained interest in animated features and franchises, with Moana 2 leading the way. The dominance of Moana 2 highlights the franchise's strong connection with its audience and suggests promising prospects for future animated films in a competitive market.