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Animation show creator, writer and director Ryan Crego has signed with UTA for representation in all areas.

Crego co-wrote and directed Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie for DreamWorks Animation ahead of a Sept. 2025 theatrical release. The live action and animated feature will adapt the popular Netflix Gabby’s Dollhouse kids series, with Laila Lockhart Kraner reprising her role as Gabby on the big screen.

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie will follow Gabby on a road trip with her Grandma Gigi, played by Gloria Estefan, to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco. But when Gabby’s dollhouse, her most prized possession, ends up in the hands of an eccentric cat lady named Vera and played by Kristen Wiig, Gabby sets off on an adventure through the real world to save the dollhouse before it’s too late.

The film was penned by Crego with Melanie Wilson Labracio and Adam Wilson. Crego began his career...

David Derrick Jr., who directed “Moana 2” for Walt Disney Animation Studios and turned a proposed streaming series for Disney+ into a $1 billion-grossing juggernaut, has headed out to open waters. The filmmaker is decamping Disney for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, directing an original feature for the studio set in the natural world.

Before making his directorial debut with “Moana 2,” Derrick was a hugely important member of the original film, storyboarding “How Far I’ll Go” and “I Am Moana.” He also worked as a story artist on Disney Animation’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Encanto” and “Strange World,” as well as Jon Favreau’s photorealistic “The Lion King” remake for Walt Disney Pictures.

Derrick, who attended the University of Utah and CalArts, started his career at DreamWorks Animation, and worked in the story department on “Bee Movie,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Megamind” and “Rise of the Guardians.

Gold House has unveiled its annual A100 List - the definitive honor for the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders across industries. This year's A100 honorees have shattered records and redefined standards across culture. In entertainment, Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu with Bowen Yang and Michelle Yeoh, became the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation globally. For his work as a director, Chu has been named an "A1" in entertainment, an honor reserved for those selected as the most impactful in their respective categories. Other notable honors in entertainment include Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen for Maybe Happy Ending, David Henry Hwang and Daniel Dae Kim for Yellow Face, and Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Dave Derrick Jr. & Dana Ledoux Miller for Moana 2. The full A100 List and Selection Committee...

Gold Derby's top news stories for April 21, 2025.

WWE reality series to go inside the writers' room for the first time ever

Netflix announced WWE: Unreal, a reality series that opens the WWE writers' room to the public for the first time ever. The ten-episode series will break kayfabe, or the illusion that professional wrestling is real, and take viewers behind the scenes of the WWE's creative process. In the trailer, WWE chief creative officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque says “Seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is a calculated, coordinated production. It’s time. We’re gonna lift the curtain." The series is produced by Eli Manning’s Omaha Productions, the WWE, NFL Films, and Skydance Sports.

Star Wars series in the works from Carlton and Nick Cuse

Carlton Cuse, the veteran writer-producer of shows including Lost and Jack Ryan, and his son Nick Cuse are reportedly teaming...

Moana 2 Ott Verdict (Week 1): Debuts With Record Number Of Views(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Disney’s 2024 blockbuster Moana 2 finally arrived on Disney+ or JioHotstar last week and set a record number of views in its first five days only. It has registered the biggest opening ever for Disney since 2021’s Encanto. The movie also came real close to beating Pixar’s Inside Out 2’s debut views. Keep scrolling for more.

The Moana sequel achieved the highest five-day opening for an animated film. It also set records for the biggest Thanksgiving opening weekend, surpassing Frozen II and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. It is also part of the list of the 50 highest-grossers in the United States. The 2024 animation is one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time.

According to The Wrap’s report, Moana 2 garnered $27.3 million global views in five days on Disney+. It is the biggest...

“Moana 2” has drawn 27.3 million views within the first five days of release on Disney+. It is now the third most successful Disney Animation theatrical film to hit the platform.

The film, which features Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson stepping back into their roles as Moana and Maui, respectively, had the largest Disney Animation premiere since “Encanto.”

The first “Moana,” which has amassed 1.4 billion hours streamed, is the most streamed film on Disney+ since the platform’s debut in 2019.

“Moana 2,” which was originally meant to be a Disney+ television show, was released in theaters on Nov. 28 and went on to earn more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

The sequel was directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand. Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear handled the music for the film, replacing Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the first film’s songs. Nicole Scherzinger, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda,...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Moana 2

It hasn't been long since Moana 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Disney's animated adventure film, hit theaters, but its ending has already set the stage for a potential third installment. Originally created as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 was later converted into a full-length feature film when Disney executives saw early footage and deemed it worthy of a big-screen experience.

Naturally, the decision proved to be a massive success, with the sequel grossing an astonishing $1.05 billion worldwide on a budget of $150 million. With Moana 2 outperforming its predecessor and the main story shifting towards an expanded universe, fans are already speculating about the possibility of Moana 3.

Moana 2 ended on a high note, with Moana making the ultimate sacrifice—only to be resurrected by her ancestors as a demigoddess, so it's safe to assume that the chosen one's story is far from complete,...

Moana 2 co-director David Derrick Jr. explains how the sequel's ending with the new wayfinders could shape future installments. Moana 2 was released in November 2024 as the sequel to Disney's 2016 hit starring Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Derrick Jr. alongside Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, the movie became a box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. The ending of Moana 2, which saw the titular character become a demigod and unite wayfinders from neighboring islands, opened the door for future sequels and spinoffs.

In an interview with The Wrap, Derrick Jr. commented on a particular Moana 2 scene that has generated a lot of conversation, revealing that the wayfinder sequence will be something that helps to inspire future films. He discussed how the introduction of more wayfinders allows exploration of the ethnosphere and how Pacific Islanders would navigate the surrounding landscape. He welcomed the chance to be...

Director David Derrick Jr. has teased that Matangi's unsteady allegiance in Moana 2 could mean bigger conflicts are ahead. Disney's sequel sees Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) off on a new journey to restore the lost island of Motufetu and undo the curse placed on the ocean by the storm god Nalo. The duo faces dangerous new villains, including Matangi—a mysterious bat lady who serves Nalo but was crucial in aiding Moana on her quest. While Moana 2 amassed $1.05 billion at the worldwide box office, Disney has yet to announce plans for Moana 3.

In an interview with The Wrap, Derrick Jr. confirms that Matangi could be a potential ally for Moana, but her current allegiance to Nalo complicates her role in the story. Moana 2 ends with Moana successfully restoring the island and even developing new powers as a demigod, but its mid-credits scene confirms that...

Disney’s “Moana 2” certainly made waves.

Originally conceived as a multipart Disney+ original series, it was reconfigured into a theatrical feature by Walt Disney Animation Studios, utilizing both the Burbank studio and a satellite studio in Canada, to make sure that the film looked – and more importantly – felt like a big screen adventure. The gamble paid off and the film, which featured returning stars Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, took in more than $1 billion worldwide, which was enough to make it the year’s third most successful film (after other Disney heavy-hitters “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine”).

In the sequel, Moana travels back into the ocean to defeat an evil demigod that has been keeping an island obscured for far too long, debilitating trade routes and keeping various Oceanic nations from meeting and interacting with one another in the process. But can she break through and keep...

Moana 2 is one of the few Disney sequels that not only surpassed what came before but completely changed the status quo of its character. Since its release in theaters, fans have been clamoring to find out when the movie will be streaming, and now the film is available on Disney+.

In celebration of its streaming release, Cbr got to sit down with Moana 2 directors Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr. about what it was like to become directors of the film. They also talk about their time working on many other Disney films and the idea that Moana has become more than just a Disney Princess.

Cbr:You all have come from backgrounds in storyboard art and know the difficulties that can come with that job alone. That said, what was the transition into the directors' chairs like for each of you?

Jason Hand: The storyboarding aspect is such...

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Moana 2 is homeward bound. The seafaring sequel to the hit 2016 film is now streaming exclusively on Disney+, and we caught up with two of the film’s directors, David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, who discussed the “constant evolution” of developing the story from a series to a theatrical release.

At a Glance: How to Stream Moana 2

Streaming: Disney+ Buy on Digital: Amazon Prime, Apple TV...

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

The movie, which started as a Disney+ TV series, was directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and we recently got to sit down with David and Jason to discuss their collaboration on this follow-up.

Among the topics covered are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's standout song, "Can I Get A Chee Hoo?," and Moana's evolution into a demigod. They also share the real-life emotional reason behind Simea's introduction and address that big mid-credits scene surprise.

We also hear from David and Jason on the work...

Dana Ledoux Miller, the co-writer of the live-action Moana movie, explains why she thinks the movie will be particularly impactful for audiences. After the massive success of 2016's animated Moanaon Disney+, Disney announced in 2023 that the title character's epic quest to save her island from a curse in ancient Polynesia would be adapted into live-action. Thomas Kail directs the live-action Moana remake, with Jared Bush co-writing with Miller. Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui in the film, with Catherine Lagaʻaia replacing Auli'i Cravalho as the eponymous hero.

In a recent interview with Variety, Miller says that, despite the live-action Moana serving as a retelling of the story from the 2016 original, it will still feel "fresh" to audiences. According to the co-writer, the live-action remake will honor the legacy of the animated film, but its new format will help to highlight the dangers of Moana's journey out on the harsh ocean waves.

Growing up, Dana Ledoux Miller’s mother would take her and her brother to matinees of films like “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.” After, she’d wear out her tapeplayer, listening to and singing along with the soundtracks for the animated classics, imagining she was Belle, Jasmine, Ariel or other Disney princesses.

“It made me want to tell stories,” Miller says.

But she never thought she’d get a chance to play a central role in determining the fate of one of those Disney heroines, which she did as the co-writer and co-director of “Moana 2,” one of the biggest hits of 2024. The sequel, which was co-directed by Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr., is debuting on Disney+ this week after earning more than $1 billion at the global box office. Miller didn’t initially plan on being part of that journey, at least not with cinemas...

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This March, we are getting a ton of content from the much-anticipated release of the superhero action drama series Daredevil: Born Again on streaming to the release of Robert Pattinson‘s highly anticipated sci-fi dark comedy film Mickey 17. This upcoming month will see the release of many great movies, so we thought of compiling a list of all the best movies that are coming straight to streaming.

Picture This (Prime Video) Release Date: March 6 Credit – Prime Video

Picture This is an upcoming British romantic comedy film directed by Prarthana Mohan from a screenplay by Nikita Lalwani. Based on the 2024 Australian film Five Blind Dates by Shawn Seet, the Prime Video film follows Pia, a struggling photographer who is told by a spiritual guru that she will find true love and success in her career in the next five dates she goes on.

This March, get ready for an action-packed lineup on Disney+. The streaming service is set to release a slew of new titles, including the highly anticipated return of Marvel’s “Daredevil: Born Again.” The series will kick off with a two-episode premiere on Tuesday, March 4th, welcoming back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, who faces new and old adversaries in his ongoing quest for justice in the gritty streets of the city.

Alongside Daredevil, Disney+ is introducing the second season of “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” continuing the adventures of the youngest trainees in the galaxy. Fans of magic and mystery will be treated to “David Blaine Do Not Attempt,” a new docuseries starting on March 24th that features the renowned illusionist in a series of breathtaking feats.

Adding to the family fun, Disney+ will also premiere “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip” on March 28th.

Moana 2 Streaming Release Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Moana 2 is still hanging in there at the box office despite many new movies entertaining the viewers. The animated feature is one of last year’s biggest movies and is now set to arrive on its home-streaming network. It set new Thanksgiving weekend records by surpassing Frozen 2, and the fans can enjoy it in the comfort of their homes for free now. Scroll below for the deets.

About

It is the highly anticipated sequel to Disney’s 2016 animated hit Moana. Auliʻi Cravalho reprises her role as Moana, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns as Maui. It was directed by David G. Derrick Jr., and the music was composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina. The film received mixed to positive reviews, receiving 61% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Their collective consensus states, “Riding high on a wave of...

We finally have a release date for “Moana 2” on Disney+. According to Variety the film will release on March 12, 2025.

“Moana 2” is going home to Disney+

Originally “Moana 2” was meant for Disney+, but Bob Iger decided to take what was show and turn it into a feature film. Unfortunately, many people said that you could tell it was meant to be a show.

The show, thenfilm, was done in a Canadian studio Disney set up. Sadly the voice actors in the show will never get heard because when it was retooled Disney brought back original voice actors who would do the film but not the show. Dwayne Johnson returned as Maui and Auli’i Cravalho returned as Moana.

The film performed well theatrically taking in over $1 billion worldwide.

The synopsis for “Moana 2” reads,

“Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors.

Gold Derby's top news stories for Feb. 25, 2025. Watch the trailer for Nicole Kidman's Holland

Amazon dropped the trailer for its new thriller Holland. Directed by Mimi Cave and written by Andrew Sodroski, the film is set in tulip-filled Holland, Mich., and follows Nancy Vandergroot (Nicole Kidman), a teacher and homemaker whose idyllic life with her husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) turns upside-down after she and (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret that reveals nothing in their lives is what it seems. Holland will premiere at South by Southwest before hitting Prime Video on March 27.

Jon Bernthal to return in Punisher special

The Punisher will return. Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, will reprise the role in a new standalone Marvel special. Bernthal, who can next be seen as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, is writing the script with his We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green,...

Experience Moana and Maui’s latest adventure at home when Disney’s Moana 2 arrives to Disney+ on March 12. The highly anticipated sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios fan favorite is the #3 highest-grossing film of 2024 and crossed a billion dollars at the global box office making it the fourth Wdas film ever to do so.

Disney’s Moana 2 is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and fans alike having hailed Disney’s Moana 2 as “a fantastic voyage”, “Gorgeous”, and “a joyous adventure the whole family will love”.

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Film Synopsis

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters...

Disney has set the Moana 2 Disney+ release date for March 12, 2025. The blockbuster film has grossed $1.053 billion worldwide, with $458.8 million coming from North American theaters and $594.6 million from international markets.

The highly anticipated sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios (Wdas) fan favorite is the #3 highest-grossing film of 2024 and is the fourth Wdas film ever to cross the billion-dollar mark.

Disney’s Moana 2 is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and fans alike having hailed the film as “a fantastic voyage”, “Gorgeous”, and “a joyous adventure the whole family will love”.

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous,...

“Moana 2,” the sequel to the Oscar-nominated film about a young Polynesian woman on a quest to break an ancient curse, will be available to stream on Disney+ on March 12.

Initially developed as a Disney+ TV series for streaming, “Moana 2” was revamped into a film with a theatrical release. The adjustment was said to be a strategic decision on the part of Disney to maximize revenue and profitability. It paid off because “Moana 2” made more than $1 billion at the box office and became the third highest-grossing movie of 2024.

The movie “reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

“Moana 2” was directed by the trio of David G. Derrick Jr.,...

We finally have a date for when you can enjoy Moana 2 at home with a big physical media release!

Much has been made about Disney seemingly backing out of the physical releases for movies game. The once-dominant way of watching a movie at home has lowered over the years with the rise of streaming services. Disney themselves discontinued their Disney Movie Club.

However, there is still an audience who will always prefer having a movie to watch at home on disc rather than rely on a streaming service with its various problems. Now, Disney has announced when Moana 2 will hit!

Per Disney and Amazon, Moana 2 comes to Blu-Ray, DVD, 4K Uhd and a 4K Steelbook on March 17. It’s already set to pre-order.

The sequel to the 2016 animated hit, Moana 2 was originally intended to be an animated TV series. It was reworked into a full-length movie with reviews a bit mixed.

Disney’s Moana 2 is sailing to 4K Uhd and other physical media formats in March – and it comes with a lot of extras…

Disney had a pretty big year with Pixar’s Inside Out 2, Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine and Moana 2 topping the 2024 list of highest-grossing films. You’d think such a huge company had money to pay more attention to their blockbuster posters…

After a successful run in cinemas, Moana 2 is now heading to physical media formats. The animated sequel will be available on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD and you can also get a 4K Steelbook version. Those will all hit shelves on 17th March. You can pre-order that on Amazon. There will also be a box-set with both Moana and Moana 2 included.

The physical editions come with a variety of extras and we’ve put them all on a list here, because...

Disney had a spectacular 2024, releasing several successful sequels. Among them was Moana 2, which, after a stunning theatrical run with a $1 billion run, is heading to digital soon.

Per Disney, Moana has gotten into her new, updated boat with her new crew, as the hit sequel is now sailing on digital. The news didn't come just with the digital rental and purchase because the House of Mouse came bearing gifts. As it was announced, the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD will also be out on Mar. 18. With the bonus features, Disney also added a special clip of Simea, Moana's adorable little sister, which Cbr can exclusively debut.

Related Moana 2 On the Verge of More Box Office History After Crossing $1 Billion

Moana 2 has one more milestone in its sights after attaining billion-dollar status this past weekend.

Moana 2 is available to rent at all the major PVOD websites,...

Grab a coconut-flavored beverage and prepare to dance because Disney’s Moana 2 comes to digital platforms today, January 28! Moana and Maui’s latest adventure swings onto digital retailers, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, before arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on March 18.

While the digital release brings the third highest-grossing film of 2024 to homes across the globe, the physical release comes packed with hours of exclusive bonus content to take the viewing experience further than ever before. Do you want to sing along to the movie’s catchy tunes, check out deleted scenes, and explore featurettes? The physical release has you covered with many options to enhance the fun. Oh, and for collectors, the 4K Uhd will be available in a collectible edition Steelbook with custom artwork and packaging.

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years after the first film’s...

Disney’s “Moana 2” hit digital platforms Tuesday — and as a treat, TheWrap is debuting an exclusive look at one of the movie’s deleted scenes, called “Help Wanted,” that you can watch exclusively below.

The setting is just after Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) falls into a giant, Lovecraftian clam:

“There were so many elements inside the clam and they are all fun and exciting,” co-director David Derrick Jr. told TheWrap of the scene. “We had these creepy scavengers that would kind of go through everything that came into the clam.”

The “Moana 2” team imagined “this whole ecosystem of creatures,” he added. “There would be an environmental pyramid of power, where you have smaller creatures below and then ultimately you had these giants that seemed like they ruled this inner world.”

Derrick helmed the $1 billion-grossing sequel with co-directors Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller.

The “giants” – pig men that would...

Moana and Maui’s latest adventure is coming home when Disney’s Moana 2 arrives at digital retailers today and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18.

The sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios fan favorite is the third-highest-grossing film of 2024 and recently crossed a billion dollars at the global box office. It is the fourth Wdas film ever to do so.

The Moana 2 digital and Blu-ray release goes far beyond with hours of exclusive bonus content for the whole family featuring a full-length Sing-Along version of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes and much more. The 4K Uhd will be available in a collectible limited edition SteelBook with custom artwork and packaging.

Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana...

Moana 2 Ott Release Date Revealed ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Moana 2 recently crossed the $1 billion milestone at the worldwide box office, becoming the third 2024 release to achieve this massive feat. As the sequel crossed the mark, Disney achieved a glorious feat since all three of the past year’s highest-grossing films are from Disney—Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Moana 2. After surpassing the great milestone, the makers have released the sequel on digital platforms, but there is a twist. Scroll below for the deets.

About the Movie

The animated musical feature is the sequel to 2016’s Moana, which was directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Mille. Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson aka Maui, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, and Alan Tudyk reprised their roles from the first film. In addition to them, Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda,...

Moana 2 continues to ride the waves of its historic theatrical run two months after its debut. However, fans of the Disney sequel won't have to wait much longer to see the film sail on digital and home video platforms.

Via People, the Moana sequel is set for its digital debut on Jan. 28. The animated adventure blockbuster will then premiere via 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Mar. 18. Both releases will be accompanied by several bonus features, including several behind-the-scenes videos, deleted scenes and a full singalong version of the movie.

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Fans get tested on when Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man streams.

Coming out eight years after the original Moana debuted, Moana 2 had a lot to live up to, considering its predecessor became an Oscar-nominated hit which grossed over $687 million at the global box office.

Quick Links Moana 2 Wasn't Going to Make it on Theater Screens The Narrative Had to Adapt to a New Format Disney Would've Missed Out on the Box Office Success

Riding a wave of success that first stemmed from the original 2016 Moana, Moana 2 surpassed its predecessors' box office figures and joined the $1 billion club, but it was only due to a change of decision. Moana has been a key part of Disney's movement to embrace different cultures and portray heroines that young audiences can look up to. Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson (both of whom reprised their roles as Moana and Maui) led viewers in a unique Disney storyline, paving the way for a suitably magical sequel to come next. The original piled up numerous nominations, including Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Although some of the accolades were in acknowledgment of the music, Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn't attached to the sequel.

Moana 2 keeps proving it has wind beneath its sails at the box office. As the Disney animated sequel reveals in joining the esteemed billion-dollar club, the film nears one more major financial milestone before its theatrical run ends.

Via Box Office Mojo, Moana 2 is closing in on becoming one of the 50 highest-grossing movies in history after crossing the $1 billion mark this past weekend, nearly two months after debuting in cinemas. The film is 54th on the all-time box-office list ($1.012 billion worldwide), with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ($1.017 billion), Alice in Wonderland ($1.025 billion), Zootopia ($1.025 billion) and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ($1.026 billion) being the films standing its way of reaching the top 50.

Related Disney+ Superhero Series Gets Canceled After 2 Seasons (Despite 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score)

Both seasons might have perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes, but that wasn't enough to save the series.

Though Moana 2 isn't as highly regarded...

Refresh for latest…: With this weekend’s business, Disney’s Moana 2 has topped $1B in global box office, becoming the third release of 2024 to reach the mark. This new milestone means Disney scored a hat trick of $1B worldwide grossers from 2024; the only studio with movies released during the year that crossed the coveted threshold.

In total, 56 movies have ever crossed $1B worldwide. Moana 2 is the 32nd from Disney (including three from the Fox acquisition) as well as being the 4th from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Breaking out Moana 2 details, the Dwayne Johnson/Auli’i Cravalho-starrer now counts $442.8M domestic through Sunday and $567.1M from the international box office for a running total of $1.01B worldwide. The current weekend hooked $7.9M from 52 overseas markets; a 32% drop in the eighth frame.

Moana 2 — from directors David G. Derrick Jr, Jason Hand...

Moana 2 has joined the billion-dollar club. The animated sequel to 2016's Moana has officially crossed the $1 billion benchmark, making it the first Disney animated movie to achieve this milestone since 2019's Frozen II.

Per Variety, Moana 2 becomes Disney's third 2024 release to join the billion-dollar club, following Pixar's Inside Out 2 ($1.69B) and Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.33B). Moana 2's success at the box office comes after a rough few years for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Following the $1.45 billion box office gross of Frozen II, no Disney animated movie was able to crack $300 million before Moana 2. While part of these box office struggles was brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, critical reception and audience interest in the last few movies were far below what a Disney movie typically receives, which no doubt impacted their respective box office hauls. With Disney's next animated films, Zootopia 2 and Frozen III,...

In 2016, Moana wondered how far she'd go. That year, it wasn't really that far as she traveled to Te Fiti and saved her island but, in 2024, the Polynesian Disney Princess ventured even further in Moana 2 to find other islanders and achieved tremendous success at the box office.

Moana 2 premiered during the Thanksgiving weekend and had a lot of competition, as previous entries included Ridley Scott's Gladiator II and Wicked. Eventually, the animated sequel to the 2016 hit surpassed both of them and, on her quest to break the Nalo's curse and find the legendary island of Motofetu to reconnect the people of the ocean, she achieved a new feat. Per The Numbers, Moana 2 is officially the third highest-grossing film of 2024, a huge feat for Disney.

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Animator Buck Woodall claims Disney copied his work without permission.

In over...

Somewhere, Dwayne Johnson is getting a chee hoo after hearing the latest good news from the highly successful Moana 2. The acclaimed actor achieves a new career box-office milestone thanks to the popular Disney animated adventure sequel.

Via Collider, Johnson's films over his 24-year Hollywood career have amassed $15 billion at the global box office, with Moana 2 helping him eclipse the mark. Most of Johnson's box-office tally has come from overseas markets, with $9.6 billion made internationally, while the remaining $5.4 billion has come from North American ticket sales.

Related 'A Lot of Moana Love to Go Around': Moana 2 Co-Director Addresses Potential Third Film

One of the directors of Disney's Moana 2 talks how the sequel is resonating with fans and what it means for the future of the franchise.

Moana 2 is one of Johnson's best-performing movies, having far outdone what the Oscar-nominated original ($687 million worldwide) earned in 2016. The record-breaking sequel,...

Gorgeous and critically-acclaimed animated films like The Wild Robot and Flow could break a longstanding precedent at the 97th Academy Awards. Established in 2001, the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature has highlighted some of the 21st century's best animated fare. However, the category has been largely dominated by a singular force in previous years, with the Academy having a clear affinity for the works produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

While Disney and Pixar have inarguably earned their frequent accolades from the Academy thanks to the strengths of their films, that domination gives the success of rival films like The Wild Robot and Flow a particularly exciting element. The awards gain some fun suspense when there's a chance of upended expectations. While Disney is still very much a contender for that category heading into the 97th Academy Awards, the critical acclaim and award success of two...

Following the huge success of Moana 2 and its big win at the box office during Thanksgiving and the subsequent holidays, it's no surprise that fans are speculating on the possibility of another sequel. With a post-credits scene that hinted at more story to tell, a third installment in the series feels almost inevitable. However, when looking at the track record and time that Walt Disney Animation Studios takes in between sequels, it might be a much longer wait than expected. However, Moana 2 co-director Dana Ledoux Miller is optimistic about Moana 3 and the future of the franchise.

In an interview with ScreenRant at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, Miller gave an update on the future of the series while also discussing her work co-writing the live-action remake of the original 2016 Moana film. The 2024 sequel's financial success leads Miller to believe in the future of the film series, saying:

"I think...

Moana 2 has helped Disney to close 2023 with a band, the sequel to 2016’s animated film has won hearts the world over during this holiday season. Co-directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the movie has garnered praise from critics and the audience alike, and the expectations of a third movie have already buzzed fandom. In a new interview with ScreenRant, Miller addressed the sequel's possibility.

One of the directors of Moana 2 recently gave an exciting update regarding the future of the franchise. The sequel's success at the box office appears to bode well for more Moana projects at Disney.

Speaking with Screen Rant at the 2025 Golden Globes, Dana Ledoux Miller, one of the three co-directors of Moana 2, spoke about the film's recent success and hinted that there might be more to come in the future. "I think that the fact that so many people have come out to see this movie means that there's a lot of love for Moana," Miller said. "In a year and a half I have another film coming out, it's the live-action Moana, so there's a lot of Moana love to go around. And who knows what else is next."

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Moana 3 gets a new update from Moana 2 co-director Dana Ledoux Miller, who expresses optimism regarding the franchise's future. After the 2016 original movie became a major hit on Disney+, it was confirmed that the in-development Moana TV show would be retooled into a feature film. The sequel hit theaters in November, becoming a major box office success, raising questions about the possibility of a Moana 3, which Disney has not yet officially announced.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant while attending the 2025 Golden Globes, Miller, who co-directs the sequel alongside David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, shares an update regarding Moana's future. While he doesn't explicitly confirm that a third animated movie will happen, he recognizes that the franchise is clearly striking a chord with viewers, which bodes well for the live-action remake coming in 2026 and beyond. Check out his comment below:

I think that the fact that...

Moana 2 has thrived at the box office since its release, and it is now preparing to pass a truly magnificent threshold. Led by returning cast members from Moana, the movie stars Auli'i Cravalho (Moana) and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Maui), as they reunite to find the island of Motufetu. With a $150 million budget, the movie was a significant investment by Disney, which originally saw the project as a potential Disney+ show. After diverting to theaters, Disney has been rewarded with immense success at the box office.

According to a report by Variety, the hit sequel has officially earned $960 million worldwide, with $425 million coming from North America. Sitting at the fourth overall spot in its sixth weekend, it ushered in $12.3 million domestically this weekend alone. It is currently well on its way to the coveted $1 billion mark, though it is not yet known how many weeks it will take.

Developing.

Moana 2 is approaching a major box office milestone that is unusually rare for Dwayne Johnson. The new movie is the sequel to Disney's 2016 hit. Although it was originally developed as a Disney+ series, the project - which was directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller from a screenplay by Miller and Jared Bush - was converted into a theatrical feature, which debuted the day before U.S. Thanksgiving in 2024, taking in a traditional 3-day opening weekend of $139.8 million and maintaining a position at No. 1 on the domestic box office chart for three consecutive weekends.

The Moana 2 cast includes quite a few returning stars. In addition to Johnson reprising the role of the demigod Maui, the movie also features Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana, Temuera Morrison as Tui, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Rachel House as Tala, and Alan Tudyk as Heihei. The movie also includes new characters portrayed by Hualālai Chung,...

Moana 2 keeps making waves at the box office as the adventure-filled sequel sails through its sixth week in theaters. The Disney blockbuster breaks new ground, becoming one of history's top 10 highest-grossing animated films.

Per Collider, Moana 2 earned $4 million domestically on Dec. 31, pushing its tally to $404 million in North American cinemas since its Nov. 27 premiere. Thanks to its latest take, Moana 2 is now the 10th-biggest domestic earner for an animated movie, overtaking another Disney title in Frozen, which made $400 million. The highest-grossing film of 2024, Inside Out 2, tops the all-time list at $650 million domestically. Thanks to Moana 2's holiday push, the sequel is projected to finish at $470 million across the U.S. and Canada, placing it sixth on the list, overtaking classics like The Lion King and Toy Story 3.

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Moana 2 has hit a staggering box office milestone as it swiftly approaches becoming a billion-dollar title. The animated movie is a sequel to Disney's 2016 hit and follows the title character (Auli'i Cravalho) embarking on her next adventure with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) along with her new crew. The record-breaking Moana 2 release kicked off the day before U.S. Thanksgiving and quickly zoomed past the $643.3 million gross earned by the original movie.

Per Box Office Mojo, Moana 2 grossed $900.6 million worldwide by the end of 2024. This means that it has officially passed the $900 million milestone, becoming only the fourth movie of last year to have done so behind Despicable Me 4 ($969.1 million), Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.338 billion), and Inside Out 2 ($1.699 billion). It is currently projected to race past the $1 billion mark sometime in early 2025.

In addition to hitting this major milestone, Moana 2's domestic gross of $404 million...

Secuelas, secuelas… y más secuelas.

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Queda muy poco para cerrar el 2024, pero en mundoCine no podemos decir adiós sin antes hacer un repaso de las que han sido las películas más taquilleras del año, con datos, por supuesto, recopilados de fuentes especializadas como lo es Box Office Mojo y The Numbers. Además, como siempre, os proporcionamos información muy útil sobre dónde podéis disfrutarlas en este mismo momento, por si os habéis perdido alguna de estas grandes superproducciones.

Y digo superproducciones porque el 2024 ha sido el año de las sagas. Secuelas, secuelas y más secuelas ocupan, como podréis ver, los primeros puestos de la taquilla. Y es que, de entre las diez primeras posiciones –y podríamos ampliarlo más allá del número diez y el panorama seguiría igual–, encontramos únicamente una excepción dentro del podio: Wicked. Aunque, siendo sinceros, tampoco se libra del todo, dado su...

After a month in theaters, Moana 2 continues to sail strong at the global box office. It’s already the third-highest-grossing animated film of the year and is on track to become the second, aiming to surpass $1 billion worldwide. Over the Christmas weekend, it remained one of the top choices for families, keeping its spot in the top five domestically.

The movie has now earned about $395 million in the U.S. and another $488 million internationally, bringing its total to $882 million, as per Box Office Mojo.

With a production budget of $150 million—lower than what Pixar typically spends—it has already surpassed the original Moana, which brought in just under $690 million in 2016. Streaming success for the first movie convinced Disney to make this sequel a theatrical event rather than a streaming series.

Moana 2 is set to overtake Despicable Me 4’s $961 million and become the second-biggest animated film this year,...

‘Venom: The Last Dance’and’Back To Black’ were the top performing films will a solo female director credit at the UK-Ireland box office in 2024, both taking over £12m.

Kelly Marcel’s third instalment of the superhero film franchise starring Tom Hardy brought in £12.4m for Sony, whileSam Taylor-Johnson’s Amy Winehouse biopic currently stands at £12.3m for Studiocanal.

A total of 13 films were directed by women, with a further three co-director credits, according to Box Office Mojo’s list of the top 100 best performing films of 2024 (excluding re-releases or holdovers from 2023) in the territory.

In 2023, 13 were directed by women,...

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2024 is nearly over, and while this year saw the release of many brilliant movies, in this article, we are only discussing the best fantasy movies that came out. Fantasy is one of those genres that invokes something magical in all of us, from the heroic journey in The Lord of the Rings films to the coming-of-age fantastical story in Harry Potter, and maybe that’s why this genre has one of the most loyal fan bases. So, let’s find out which fantasy movies released in 2024 were the absolute best.

If Credit – Paramount Pictures

If is a fantasy comedy film written and directed by John Krasinski. The 2024 film follows Bea, a young girl who discovers she can see imaginary friends of other people. She soon sets out on a magical adventure to find human kids to pair them with forgotten imaginary friends.