Walt Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection
Walt Disney Co.’s “Moana” sailed to a hit $81.1 million at the box office over the five-day holiday weekend.
The estimated gross is the second-best five-day Thanksgiving opening of all time, behind Disney’s own “Frozen,” which opened to $93.6 million in 2013. Disney DISN, -0.53% has come to dominate the Thanksgiving release window; “Moana” now means Disney has the top six five-day debuts for the holiday of all time.
Moana: Disney Returns With Another Spunky Princess
’Moana’ sees a princess defy tradition and venture beyond her island home of Motunui to save her people. It features voice talent from Dwayne Johnson and Jemaine Clement with music composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i. Mark Kelly reports. Image: Disney
Thanksgiving week helps draw in multiple generations of moviegoers, said Dave Hollis, Disney’s executive vice president of distribution. “It gives us that big burst,” he said. “Frozen” became its own juggernaut in 2013, coasting on strong weekends for months to a domestic haul of $400 million.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” the Harry Potter spinoff that premiered in first place last week, slipped to No. 2 with a healthy $65.8 million over the five days. The movie, from Time Warner Inc.’s TWX, +0.45% Warner Bros., has collected a total of $156.2 million in North America and made its debut in China with $41.1 million. Its worldwide total stands at $317.5 million. “Allied,” starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard as World War II spies and lovers, grossed an underwhelming $18 million over the five days.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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