The Walt Disney Company’s box office dominance continued over the holiday weekend. “Moana 2” surpassed $1 billion during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, making it the studio’s third 2024 release to achieve this milestone after Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool and Wolverine” and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” No other Hollywood studio had a film cross $1 billion last year.
“Moana 2” grossed $442.8 million at the domestic box office and $567.1 million in international markets, as reported by the company over the weekend. It is the fourth film from the Walt Disney Animation arm to exceed $1 billion in ticket sales, joining the ranks of “Frozen,” “Frozen II,” and “Zootopia.”
This accomplishment adds to Disney’s success, especially after facing challenges in the years following the pandemic in gaining traction with its animated releases. The company’s struggles were partly due to the decision to premiere several animated features directly on its streaming service Disney+, which influenced parents to seek new content at home even after theaters reopened and films returned to cinemas.
“Inside Out 2” not only signaled a comeback for Disney but also helped revitalize the overall domestic box office in June. It earned over $650 million domestically and became the first film since Warner Bros’ “Barbie” to surpass $1 billion at the global box office.
Moreover, it was the first time since 2019 that a Pixar or Walt Disney Animation film generated over $480 million globally. “Inside Out 2” ultimately emerged as the highest-grossing film of 2024.
“Deadpool and Wolverine,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Moana 2,” alongside other theatrical releases, contributed to Disney’s surpassing $2.2 billion at the domestic box office last year, representing approximately 25% of the industry’s total earnings, according to Comscore data.
With “Moana 2” crossing the billion-dollar threshold, Disney now boasts 32 billion-dollar movies, including three films acquired through the Fox acquisition in 2019. Notably, out of the 56 films that have exceeded $1 billion at the global box office, Disney accounts for nearly 60% of the highest-grossing films in cinematic history.
