Moana 2 crosses $1 billion mark

Once only planned for an online release, Moana 2 unexpectedly became a box office blockbuster, becoming the first film to surpass the $1 billion mark in 2025.

The animated sequel has grossed $445 million domestically and $567 million internationally, bringing its global total to $1.009 billion after eight weeks of release. "Moana 2" is Disney's third theatrical release of 2024 to join the billion-dollar club, following "Inside Out 2" and "Deadpool & Wolverine." Notably, no other studio has reached the milestone (the closest to $1 billion was Universal's "Despicable Me 4" with $969 million), cementing the Mouse House's dominance in a year marked by a strong recovery.

“Moana 2” debuted on November 28 and created a Thanksgiving box office boom with $225 million, surpassing the previous record set by 2019’s “Frozen II” with $125 million. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film benefited from word of mouth and remained in the Top 5 of the North American box office for seven consecutive weeks.

The success of "Moana 2" is surprising because the film was previously planned to be released on the Disney+ streaming platform. The first "Moana" received positive reviews but only grossed $680 million globally in 2016. The film then exploded in popularity on Disney+, becoming one of the most watched streaming titles.

Disney is also developing a live-action version of Moana, slated for release in 2026. And with ticket sales looking strong for the film, a third animated installment may not be too far off.