Los Angeles, California – Black Friday in the world of cinema is usually a significant day for box office revenues. However, this year is breaking records like never before, with an estimated total of over $107 million in ticket sales for all movies, spearheaded by Disney’s highly-anticipated film, Moana 2.
The buzz surrounding Moana 2, Universal’s Wicked, and Paramount’s Gladiator II has created a frenzy for movie tickets. Reports indicate that theater chain AMC experienced a 13-minute wait time for ticket purchases at one point during the morning rush. Despite this unexpected surge, the situation is reportedly being managed effectively by the theater chain.
Industry data from Comscore suggests that this year’s Black Friday is set to surpass the previous record of $85 million, set back in 2013 when Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire dominated the Thanksgiving box office for that period.
Moana 2 is expected to shatter records with a projected $55 million in ticket sales on Black Friday alone, surpassing Frozen II’s $34.1 million from 2019. Meanwhile, Wicked is on track to rake in $27 million, and Gladiator II is aiming for $12.6 million in ticket sales on Friday. Moana 2 is even poised to surpass Frozen II’s impressive $125 million 5-day total over the Thanksgiving holiday, with a potential to reach $200 million or more. Wicked is predicted to secure the fourth-highest earnings over the holiday weekend with $105.6 million, while Gladiator II is looking at a solid $45 million take.
Notably, Dwayne Johnson has achieved a remarkable milestone in Hollywood’s box office history by securing two No. 1 openings in the same month with Moana 2 and Red One. This accomplishment is a rare feat for any leading actor in the industry.