### "Moana 2" Breaks Records with $13.8 Million from Preview Screenings

Disney's "Moana 2" made waves at the box office, bringing in an astounding $13.8 million from preview screenings on Tuesday. This milestone not only became the highest preview collection ever for Disney Animation but also the biggest pre-Thanksgiving preview tally. It's the second-highest preview figure for an animated film, showcasing the strong anticipation surrounding the film.

In comparison to other Disney animated hits, "Inside Out 2" gathered $13 million in preview screenings this June before debuting to $154 million over its first three days. "Toy Story 4," released in 2019, amassed $12 million from previews and achieved a $121 million opening weekend. Additionally, "Frozen II," another 2019 release, generated $8.5 million from preview screenings before securing a $130 million weekend, just before Thanksgiving. Pixar's "Incredibles 2," which holds the record for the most successful animated debut, earned $18.5 million in previews and soared to a $183 million opening weekend.

"Moana 2" began its preview screenings at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and with its official release set for Wednesday, the film is projected to accumulate between $135 million and $145 million over its first five days. This would surpass the Thanksgiving box office record previously held by "Frozen II" ($125 million) and "Hunger Games: Catching Fire" ($109 million).

Interestingly, "Moana 2" was initially conceived as a television series for Disney+ before being transformed into a feature film, a shift that appears to have paid off handsomely. Despite the mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds a 67% average, the return of Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui has sparked significant interest. The sequel follows Moana on an adventurous journey across the ocean to uncover a hidden island and lift a curse, but does not feature Lin-Manuel Miranda as the songwriter. Instead, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, known for "The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical," have taken over the musical reins.

Simultaneously, other major releases are also drawing large audiences this Thanksgiving. "Wicked," featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, pulled in an impressive $16.6 million from Tuesday previews, with expectations to reach $60 million over the traditional weekend and at least $80 million over the five-day holiday period. To date, "Wicked" has earned $144.9 million domestically and $195 million globally.

Likewise, "Gladiator II" secured $6.6 million from Tuesday screenings. Paramount's major sequel is projected to add $33 million from North American theaters over the traditional weekend and $45 million from Wednesday through Sunday. So far, "Gladiator II" has grossed $67.2 million domestically and $232 million internationally.

With "Moana 2" leading the charge, this Thanksgiving promises to be a significant event at the box office, driven by strong performances from a slate of highly-anticipated films.