Moana 2 continues to dominate the box office, securing a spot in animated movie history. The highly anticipated sequel has now earned its place among the top 10 highest-grossing animated films worldwide.
As reported by Collider, the film grossed an additional $4 million domestically on December 31, pushing its total earnings to $404 million in North America since its release on November 27. This impressive feat places Moana 2 as the 10th highest-grossing animated film in U.S. history, surpassing Disney’s Frozen, which earned $400 million. Leading the pack is Inside Out 2, which has grossed $650 million domestically.
Thanks to a strong holiday box office performance, Moana 2 is projected to finish with approximately $470 million in the U.S. and Canada, landing it in sixth place on the all-time list and surpassing iconic films like The Lion King and Toy Story 3.
Globally, Moana 2 has raked in $900.6 million, outpacing the original Moana ($687.2 million). The film is on track to potentially reach the $1 billion mark, which could push it ahead of Despicable Me 4 ($961 million) to become the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2024.
Following a record-breaking Thanksgiving release, Moana 2 has solidified Disney’s decision to expand the franchise from a planned TV series into a theatrical film. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the sequel follows Princess Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) as she embarks on a journey to Oceania, guided by an unexpected call from her ancestors. She is joined by her companions, including Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), who returns to his role as the shape-shifting demigod. Other cast members reprising their roles include Temuera Morrison (Tui), Nicole Scherzinger (Sina), Rachel House (Tala), and Alan Tudyk (Heihei).
While the original Moana was met with critical acclaim, the sequel has received a more mixed response. The film holds a 61% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with some reviewers pointing to issues with its musical selections and storyline. However, audiences have strongly supported the sequel, with an impressive 86% audience score.
Amid the success of Moana 2, Johnson is also spearheading a live-action adaptation of the film, which is currently in production. The live-action version, set to hit theaters on July 10, 2026, will feature Johnson as the only actor reprising his role from the animated version, with Catherine Laga’aia portraying Moana.
Moana 2 is currently playing in theaters, with no official release date for its streaming debut on Disney+.
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