‘Moana 2’ still No. 1, reaches another milestone at box office

This image released by Disney shows the character Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, center, in a scene from “Moana 2.” (Disney via AP)

LOS ANGELES – “Moana 2” is the most popular movie at North American theaters for the third straight weekend, grossing another $26.6 million, according to industry estimates released Sunday.

Disney’s animated sequel to its 2016 hit about the daughter of a Polynesian village chief once again topped Universal Pictures’ “Wicked,” which made $22.5 million in its fourth weekend, Comscore reported.

Third place went to “Kraven the Hunter,” a spinoff movie for a character from the Spider-Man series, which opened with $11 million.

“Gladiator II” took fourth place with $7.8 million Friday through Sunday in its fourth week.

The animated “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” opened with $4.6 million for fifth place.

Rounding out the top 10 domestic releases were “Red One” ($4.4 million), a re-release of Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film “Interstellar” ($3.3 million), “Pushpa: The Rule Part 2” ($1.6 million), “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” ($1.3 million) and “Queer” ($790,954).

“Moana” has crossed $337.5 million domestically and $717 million globally, earning the top spot for its third straight weekend, according to a report by Variety. It surpassed “Dune: Part Two” with $714.4 million global gross.

The movie has also clinched its place as the fourth highest-grossing movie of 2024 just three weeks into its run.

“Moana 2” has already broken several box office records, earning the best Thanksgiving weekend opener, the biggest global opening weekend for an animated movie and the biggest opening gross for an animated Disney movie.

“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 for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foaʻi and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. (With CNS report)