Disney’s “Moana 2” is rapidly growing into a box office tsunami, earning a jaw-dropping $57.5 million opening day on Wednesday from 4,200 locations as it is now has a strong chance to earn the first ever $200 million-plus 5-day launch on Thanksgiving weekend.
Disney is keeping its own estimates lower given that there’s a long way to go over this holiday weekend, projecting a $175 million-plus extended start. But even that will blow by the Thanksgiving 5-day record of $125 million set by “Frozen II” in 2019 even after inflation adjustment.
That $59 million includes a Disney Animation record $13.8 million from Tuesday preview screenings, but even without that, “Moana 2” has now earned more money than any animated film has ever earned on a Wednesday, breaking the $31.7