Yahoo Lifestyle Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Still Making a Splash on Top as A24’s ‘Y2K’ Opens in Eighth Place
“Moana 2” is still making a splash at the domestic box office.
The Disney animated sequel added $11.7 million on Friday, on its way to $50.8 million for its second weekend of release. After setting a new Thanksgiving box office record last week with $225 million over the five-day holiday frame, the film’s domestic total is expected to reach just south of $300 million through Sunday.
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“Moana 2” was originally conceived as a Disney+ series, but the studio’s decision to rework the project into a theatrical sequel has proven worthwhile, despite mixed reviews. Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho reprise their voice roles as the tattooed demigod Maui and the titular Polynesian heroine, respectively, in the film.
Other holdovers at the top of domestic charts include “Wicked,” “Gladiator II” and “Red One.” Universal’s “Wicked” nabbed second place after earning $9.5 million on Friday. The big-budget adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is projected to earn $32.7 million in its third weekend of release and soar past $318 million domestically.
In third place, Paramount’s “Gladiator II” added $3.6 million on Friday. The historical epic starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington is expected to battle its way to $12.9 million through Sunday, down 58% from the previous week. After three weekends of release, the film will surpass $130 million domestically.
“Red One,” a Christmas-set action-comedy starring The Rock as Santa’s head of security, secured the No. 4 spot in its fourth weekend of release. The Amazon MGM film added $1.6 million on Friday and is looking to push past $85 domestically — a not-so-jolly number considering the film cost $250 million.
Rounding out the top five is “Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2,” an Indian Telugu-language action film starring Allu Arjun as the titular role. Rivals estimate that the film earned $1.7 million on its opening day from 1,245 theaters and will nab $5.2 million through Sunday.
In a distant eighth place, A24’s “Y2K” earned an estimated $910,000 on its opening day from 2,108 locations. “SNL” alum Kyle Mooney’s disaster comedy-horror film — starring Rachel Zegler, Jaeden Martell and Julian Dennison — follows a group of high schoolers who find themselves fighting for their lives when Y2K becomes a reality. Critics and early audiences panned the movie, giving it a 44% “rotten” score on Rotten Tomatoes and a dismal “C-” on ticketbuyer pollster CinemaScore.
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