AceShowbiz - The Thanksgiving box office exploded with an unprecedented weekend, as three major blockbusters, "Moana 2", "Wicked" and "Gladiator II", shattered records. "Moana 2" led the charge, setting a new Thanksgiving box office record with a massive $221 million debut.

The Disney animated sequel surpassed the previous high from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" ($109.9 million). Internationally, "Moana 2" grossed an estimated $165.3 million, bringing its global tally to $386.3 million.

Meanwhile, "Wicked" continued its enchanting run, raking in another $117.5 million domestically. The film, which has grossed $262.4 million in its first two weekends, has become the highest grossing Broadway adaptation, surpassing "Grease".

"Gladiator II" also held its ground, earning $44 million for a domestic total of $111.2 million. The sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 classic has amassed $320 million worldwide.

The top three films drove the overall box office to a record $420 million in ticket sales over the Thanksgiving weekend, a surge of over $100 million compared to previous years. This surge indicates the resilience of the blockbuster machine and suggests that the industry is recovering from recent challenges.

The debut of "Moana 2" marks a significant shift for Disney, which had originally planned the film as a streaming series. However, the return of Bob Iger as CEO led to a reconsideration of the strategy, highlighting the potential of both theaters and streaming services.

"Moana 2" is part of a larger resurgence for family moviegoing, which is expected to generate $6.8 billion in ticket sales in 2024. The film's success sets the stage for a promising holiday season, with several other blockbusters vying for attention.

Top 10 of North American Box Office (Nov. 29-Dec. 01, 2024):

1. "Moana 2" - $135.5 million
2. "Wicked" - $80 million
3. "Gladiator II" - $30.7 million
4. "Red One" - $12.9 million
5. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" - $3.3 million
6. "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." - $2.4 million
7. "Venom: The Last Dance" - $2.2 million
8. "Heretic" - $956,797
9. "The Wild Robot" - $670,000
10. "A Real Pain" - $665,000