The highly anticipated sequel to Disney’s 2016 animated hit, Moana, has taken the world by storm. Moana 2 debuted in theaters on November 27, 2024, and quickly became a box office phenomenon, raking in over $1 billion worldwide in its first few weeks. The film’s record-breaking performance has made it a key financial driver for The Walt Disney Company’s first-quarter fiscal results in 2025.

From captivating premieres to financial triumphs, the success of Moana 2 highlights Disney’s ability to leverage its powerful intellectual property (IP) while reinforcing its dominance in the entertainment industry. The film’s release has not only boosted box office earnings but also contributed significantly to Disney’s streaming and licensing revenue.

UK Premiere: A Night of Stars and Celebration

On November 24, 2024, just days before the global release, London hosted the UK premiere of Moana 2 at Cineworld Leicester Square. The event was a star-studded affair, with lead actress Aulia Cravalho, reprising her role as Moana, stealing the show in an elegant floral Oscar de la Renta gown.

Dwayne The Rock Johnhnson, who voices the demigod Maui, also made a striking appearance, wearing an AMIRI palm tree print jacket that paid tribute to the film’s Polynesian-inspired setting. Their on-screen chemistry and real-life friendship were on full display, fueling fans excitement about the sequel.

Cravalho’s deep connection to Moana has been evident since she was cast in the original film at age 14. Now, as a young adult, she spoke about how Moana’s journey mirrors her own personal growth, making the sequel even more special for her.

The UK premiere marked a significant milestone in the film’s global promotional tour, generating immense buzz before the theatrical release.

Box Office Triumph: Moana 2 Shatters Records

Following its highly anticipated debut, Moana 2 immediately dominated the global box office, securing one of the biggest openings for an animated film in history.

Opening Weekend Numbers

Domestic Opening (U.S. & Canada): $220 million

International Opening: $275 million

Total Worldwide Opening: $495 million

With such an explosive start, the film quickly surpassed the $1 billion mark within its first month in theaters.

How Moana Compares to Other Disney Animated Hits

Film	Opening Weekend (Worldwide)	Lifetime Gross (Worldwide)
Frozen II (2019)	$358 million	$1.45 billion
Moana 2 (2024)	$495 million	$1.02 billion (still in theaters)
The Lion King (2019)	$433 million	$1.66 billion
Toy Story 4 (2019)	$244 million	$1.07 billion

If Moana 2 continues its momentum, analysts predict it could surpass $1.4 billion, making it one of Disney’s top-grossing animated films.

Disney’s First-Quarter Financial Results: A Boost from Moana 2

Thanks to Moana 2, Disney’s Q1 2025 earnings reflected strong growth across multiple segments, including theatrical revenue, streaming, and licensing.

Key Financial Highlights

Total Revenue: $24.69 billion, a 5% increase from Q1 2024.

Net Income: $2.55 billion ($1.40 per share), up from $1.91 billion ($1.04 per share) last year.

Adjusted Earnings Per Share: $1.76, exceeding analysts predictions by 32 cents.

Entertainment Segment Growth: 9% increase, largely driven by Moana 2.

Content Sales and Licensing: 34% boost, thanks to the film’s home entertainment success.

A Comeback for Disney’s Box Office Business

Following a challenging 2023, where several Disney films underperformed, the triumph of Moana 2 signals a turnaround for Disney’s animated division.

This success validates the company’s renewed focus on sequels and franchise expansions, demonstrating that audiences still have a strong appetite for Disney’s beloved characters.

The Role of Streaming: Disney+ and Moana 2

Beyond theaters, Moana 2 has also played a critical role in Disney’s streaming strategy.

Disney+ Revenue Boost

Disney’s direct-to-consumer segment, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, reported:

$293 million in operating income, a significant improvement from a $138 million loss in Q1 2024.

Subscription revenue growth, despite a minor decline in total subscribers.

Subscriber Trends

Disney+ subscriber count: 124.6 million, slightly down from 125.3 million last quarter.

The dip was expected, as Disney had recently raised prices for its ad-free tier.

Streaming & Theatrical Synergy

Disney’s strategic decision to keep Moana 2 exclusive to theaters before moving it to Disney+ in late 2025 has proven effective.

By delaying streaming, Disney maximized box office earnings while maintaining anticipation for the Disney+ release.

Challenges in Other Disney Segments

Despite Moana 2’s record-breaking earnings, some areas of Disney’s business faced headwinds.

Theme Parks & Experiences

Disney’s domestic theme parks saw slower growth due to:

Hurricane disruptions in Florida

Increased operational costs

The expensive launch of new Disney Cruise ships

However, international Disney parks (such as Shanghai and Tokyo Disneyland) performed strongly, offsetting some losses.

Linear TV Struggles

Disney’s traditional TV networks, including ABC and ESPN, continued to decline, reflecting industry-wide shifts toward streaming.

Disney’s Future Strategy: What’s Next After Moana 2?

With the success of Moana 2, Disney is doubling down on franchise-driven content while innovating its streaming and theatrical strategies.

Strengthening Disney+ with Integrated Streaming

Disney plans to merge Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ into a unified app.

ESPN will soon offer direct-to-consumer sports streaming, capitalizing on live sports demand.

Prioritizing Established Franchises

Following the financial disappointment of original animated films like Wish, Disney is pivoting back to sequels and franchise films, including:

Frozen 3 (2026)

Zootopia 2 (2025)

Toy Story 5 (2026)

Expanding Disney’s Global Box Office Presence

The overwhelming international success of Moana 2 highlights the importance of culturally resonant storytelling.

Disney plans to continue investing in diverse narratives to expand its global audience.

Moana 2  Marks a Disney Resurgence

Disney’s first-quarter financial performance underscores a powerful comeback for the company’s theatrical business.

With over $1 billion in earnings, Moana 2 has:

Revived confidence in Disney’s animated division

Boosted the company’s stock and financial outlook

Proven that audiences still crave high-quality Disney storytelling

Looking ahead, Disney’s strategic focus on sequels, streaming integration, and global market expansion will shape its future success.

For now, Moana 2 continues to shine as one of the biggest cinematic triumphs of 2024-2025.

 

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