Disney's MOANA Sets Sail with Record-Breaking Numbers; Far Exceeds 'Frozen' Opening

By: Nov. 23, 2016
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Disney's newest animated adventure film MOANA kicked off the Thanksgiving holiday with record-setting numbers at the box office, according to Variety. The film, featuring original music by HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, took in $2.6 million at Tuesday night's preview showings which began at 7 p.m. in North America.

The gross doubled the previous record of $1.3 million, set in 2015 by Disney's "The Good Dinosaur." It also blows away the $1.2 million preview gross from Disney's "Frozen," the $1.4 million Thursday preview total for "Big Hero 6" and the $1.7 million Thursday preview for "Zootopia" last March.

MOANA is expected to surpass Warner Bros' "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday. That film debuted last weekend to $74.4 million and added $6.8 million to its box office take on Monday. According to industry projections, the Disney Polynesian-set adventure film is expected to bring in at least $75 million at 3,875 locations nationwide during the five days. Reviews for the Disney flick have been mostly positive, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 99% "fresh" rating. Check out BWW's review roundup of MOANA here!

About MOANA: From Walt Disney Animation Studios, MOANA is a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana (voice of Auli?i Cravalho) convinces the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a wayfinder like her ancestors who sailed before her. Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she's always sought: her own identity.

Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "The Princess & the Frog"), the film is produced by Osnat Shurer ("Lifted," "One Man Band").



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