It has only takenMoana 2five days to set a new viewership record on Disney+. The animated sequel came to Disney+ on March 12 afterMoana 2’s box officeearned nearly $1.06 billion worldwide. It had a particularly strong theatrical debut, which saw the movie have the best five-day Thanksgiving opening of all time, along withgarnering the largest opening day gross of all time for an animated Disney film. Staying in theaters for more than 100 days contributed to the extensive box office success before becoming available to stream.
According toTheWrap,Moana 2has received 27.3 million views in its first five days on Disney+, which is the third all-time highest launch for a theatrical movie on the streaming platform. It is also the best streaming debut for a Walt Disney Studios Animation movie sinceEncantoin December 2021, although this was after a mere 30-day theatrical run forEncanto. One of the few movies to receive more views thanMoana 2in its first five days on Disney+ isInside Out 2, which amassed 30.5 million views during that time.
What This Means For Moana 2
The Sequel Is A Box Office And Streaming Success
Moana 2’s initial streaming numbers confirm that the movie is now both a box office and streaming hit. This is further proof of whyMoana 2being a Disney+ showwould have been the wrong financial decision for Disney. Making the sequel exclusive to streaming would have prevented Disney from making the nearly $1.06 billion worldwide box office that came with the movie’s dominant theatrical run.On top of these box office numbers, Disney can now enjoy the extensive streaming viewershipand its positive impact on streaming subscriptions as well.
Moana 2 Ending Explained: What Happens To Moana & How It Sets Up Moana 3
Moana 2’s ending sets the stage for the franchise to grow even more expansive and gives the titular Wayfinder an unexpected new direction.
Among the reasons Disney CEO Bob Iger shared for whyMoana 2became a movie, he revealed that the originalMoanahas been watched for more than 1 billion hours on Disney+, and received more views than any movie across all streaming platforms in 2023. The robust viewership enjoyed by the 2016 movie is already carrying over into the strong debut numbers forMoana 2. Much like its predecessor,the family-friendlyMoana 2will likely become a favorite for many repeat viewings.
Our Take On Moana 2’s Record-Breaking Disney+ Debut
It’s All Good News For Disney
Moana 2’s Disney+ debut numbers may not be surprising, but they are still impressive. With this particular movie,Disney is able to profit from the best of the theatrical and streaming worlds, which bodes well forMoana 3being greenlit. In terms of the actual story in the second movie, some of the pacing, new characters, and plot developments feel like they may have been better suited for a streaming series. Regardless, after the box office and streaming success ofMoana 2, any future sequels will definitely be released in theaters first.
