The box office was ablaze this Black Friday, with Disney’s Moana 2 leading the charge to a record-breaking $54.5 million haul. This staggering figure marks the highest Black Friday opening in box office history, eclipsing all previous records and setting the stage for an anticipated $220 million in revenue over the five-day holiday period.
Moana 2 brought back beloved characters, including Dwayne Johnson reprising his fan-favorite role as Maui, and despite some mixed reviews calling the film “wishy-washy,” audiences clearly didn’t hesitate to turn out in droves. Its winning combination of vibrant animation, charming characters, and unforgettable songs has made it an undeniable draw for families and fans alike—especially on one of the most lucrative days in the movie business.
Not far behind, Wicked also contributed significantly to this record-breaking Black Friday, taking the second spot with $32 million. After an explosive opening, the film has accumulated a projected domestic total of $263 million by Sunday, making it the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation in history. Its Black Friday performance was also impressive enough to rank third among all-time Black Friday earnings, trailing only behind Frozen 2.
In third place, Gladiator II earned $12.4 million on Friday, and is expected to close out the holiday weekend with a solid $45 million. Together, these top three films propelled the box office to its most profitable Black Friday ever, emphasizing the sheer drawing power of beloved franchises.
Other notable performances this weekend included the holiday action-comedy Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson yet again, which claimed the fourth spot with $4.84 million, and Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., which rounded out the top five with just over $918,000.
This Black Friday’s record-setting box office serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of franchise films, musical adaptations, and the irresistible pull of holiday season releases. With Moana 2 smashing past previous benchmarks, it’s clear that audiences were eager to spend their post-turkey day cheering on familiar favorites and embracing new adventures.
