There was much to be thankful for at the box office this weekend. After “Wickediator” proved to be a success on a huge pre-Thanksgiving weekend, the good fortune continued with Moana 2’s release on the 2024 movie calendar.

The combination of the animated sequel, the history-making 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' is delivering an unparalleled post-pandemic victory at the box office.

Critics can’t sink Moana 2. Disney’s animated musical sailed into theaters Wednesday on a wave of tepid reviews, which haven’t impacted ticket sales: the movie’s $13.8 million in Tuesday previews set a record for Walt Disney Animation Studios and the second-best for an animated title behind Pixar’s Incredibles 2 ($18.