Anticipation for ‘Moana 2’ is already soaring, months before its Thanksgiving release. The trailer for the highly anticipated sequel has set a new record, amassing 178 million views within its first 24 hours, making it the most-viewed trailer in the history of Disney Animation and Pixar.
The impressive viewership surpasses previous records held by Disney and Pixar. Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’ trailer garnered 157 million views, while Disney Animation’s ‘Frozen 2’ achieved 116 million views. Additionally, ‘Moana 2’ outperformed Pixar’s ‘Incredibles 2,’ which had 113 million views.
The ‘Moana 2’ trailer will be showcased before ‘Inside Out 2,’ which hits theatres on 14th June. The upcoming Pixar sequel is projected to open with an $80 million to $85 million box office, with some estimates suggesting it could surpass $90 million. These figures are promising for Disney’s animation division, especially as Pixar has faced recent challenges.
‘Moana 2’ reunites original voice actors Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. The film, directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, follows Moana on a new adventure through long-lost waters after receiving a call from her ancestors. Johnson returns as the demigod Maui, adding to the excitement of fans of the original film.
Initially conceived as a television series, ‘Moana 2’ was reworked into a theatrical sequel. The movie features new songs by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, with Christina Chen and Yvett Merino serving as producers. In addition to the animated sequel, Disney and Dwayne Johnson are collaborating on a live-action ‘Moana remake, directed by Thomas Kail, set to release on 10th July 2026.
The enduring popularity of ‘Moana’ is evident, as the original 2016 film, which grossed over $687 million worldwide, was the most streamed movie across all platforms in 2023, according to Nielsen. With the record-breaking trailer and the return of beloved characters, ‘Moana 2’ is poised to continue the legacy of its predecessor, promising an exciting adventure for audiences worldwide.
-Gayathri J