Disney’s Braces for ‘Frozen’ Takeover as New Animated Movie Already Making a Splash
Disney’s Frozen (2013) has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on pop culture. For years, Elsa and Anna, voiced by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, and “Let It Go” became a global anthem. But as Disney gears up to release Moana 2 (2024), the reign of Frozen might be coming to an end.
In 2022, Encanto’s chart-topping “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” had already replaced Frozen’s “Let It Go” as the Disney song of the moment. Now, in just a couple of years, Moana 2 is poised to dethrone Frozen once again, this time on the big screen. With its release scheduled for November 27, 2024, right before Thanksgiving, the sequel to Moana (2016) is primed to break records.
Although Moana 2 was announced as recently as February 2024, the excitement surrounding it has been palpable. Within 24 hours of its trailer launch, the preview racked up an astonishing 178 million views, the highest ever for Disney Animation in that time span. As anticipation builds, box office predictions for the opening weekend are nothing short of remarkable.
According to Deadline, the film is projected to earn between $105 and $115 million during its opening stretch from Wednesday, November 27, to Sunday, December 1. Should these forecasts hold true, and the film takes $100+ million from a Wednesday opening, Moana 2 will eclipse Frozen’s record for the biggest Thanksgiving holiday opening, which currently stands at $93.5 million.
“A $100M+ result… would rep the biggest opening for a movie on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” notes Deadline. With Moana 2 tracking particularly well with younger female audiences, this animated adventure could follow the trajectory of recent box office triumphs like Inside Out 2 (2024).
That Pixar sequel garnered $158 million during its opening weekend and has since grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide, dethroning Frozen II (2019) as the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. Disney is surely hoping that Moana 2 will enjoy similar success and further solidify its place in the annals of animated film history.
Moana 2’s path to the big screen hasn’t been without its own twists. Initially planned as a Disney+ series, the project shifted to a theatrical release earlier this year. This came after it was revealed that the original Moana film was the most-streamed movie on any platform in 2023, cementing it as a cornerstone of Disney’s strategy for the future. With such a massive fan base already in place, the decision to make Moana 2 a full-length feature was both strategic and organic.
Jennifer Lee, former Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, shared: “It was getting bigger and bigger and more epic, and we really wanted to see it on the big screen. It creatively evolved, and it felt like an organic thing.” Similarly, co-director David Derrick Jr. recalled the moment they realized the story needed to be told on the big screen: “It became apparent very early on that this wanted to be on the big screen. It felt like a groundswell within the whole studio.”
Musically, the sequel stays true to the original but with some exciting new talent joining the team. While Lin-Manuel Miranda, who helped bring the music of Moana to life, will not be part of this project, the Grammy-winning duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, known for their work on The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, are stepping in to co-write the film’s songs alongside returning veterans Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i.
This blend of familiar voices and fresh talent ensures that Moana 2 will have the same musical magic that fans of the original have come to love, with a touch of new energy.
Of course, the beloved characters from the first film are back, too. Auliʻi Cravalho returns as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. Familiar faces like Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui, and Rachel House as Gramma Tala will also make a return.
New characters, including Moana’s sister, Simea (voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), and her wayfaring crew, bring new dynamics to the story. Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, and Alan Tudyk round out the cast, lending their voices to Matangi, Tautai Vasa, and the ever-lovable Hei Hei, respectively.
Moana 2 is poised to be a grand seafaring adventure filled with heart, humor, and the cultural richness that made the original a smash hit.
As we look toward its release this November, the question on everyone’s mind is clear: Can Moana 2 live up to the immense expectations set by its predecessor? Will it surpass Frozen and stake its claim as one of Disney’s most successful animated films? Only time will tell, but if the early signs are anything to go by, Moana 2 is already sailing toward box office glory.
What do you think? Will Moana 2 take Frozen‘s Thanksgiving throne? Let us know in the comments below!
