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‘Moana 2’, Once Destined For Disney+, Surpasses US$1 Billion Globally Amid Lawsuit

Disney’s animated blockbuster Moana 2 has surpassed US$1 billion at the global box office, cementing its place among 2024’s highest-grossing films. Released on Thanksgiving weekend, the sequel continues the story of Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, as she ventures across treacherous seas following a mysterious call from her ancestors. Alongside Cravalho, the cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, and Rose Matafeo.

This achievement not only eclipses the original Moana’s US$680 million global earnings in 2016 but also makes the sequel the third highest-grossing Disney film of the year, trailing Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. The film’s Thanksgiving release broke records with a US$225 million opening weekend, outpacing the US$125 million debut of Frozen II. A strategic shift from an intended Disney+ series to a theatrical release played a pivotal role in the film’s success, allowing it to achieve significant box office momentum across major markets such as the United States, China, and Europe.

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In comparison to other 2024 releases, Moana 2 has outperformed titles like Mufasa: The Lion King (US$542.3 million) and Wicked (US$708.6 million). Its impressive run places it alongside other billion-dollar animated hits such as The Lion King (2019) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). The decision to prioritise a theatrical release over streaming underscores the continued demand for family-friendly films on the big screen, reaffirming Disney’s strength in this genre.

Amid this success, Moana 2 faces legal challenges. Animator Buck Woodall has filed a US$10 billion lawsuit against Disney, alleging that elements of the Moana franchise infringe on his copyrighted screenplay Bucky. He claims his project, submitted to a Disney-affiliated studio in 2003, shares striking similarities with both Moana films. These include plot elements such as an ancient Polynesian setting, a teenager’s ocean adventure, a symbolic necklace, a large creature hidden in a mountain, the crew being sucked into a whirlpool portal, and a supporting character in the form of a tattooed demigod with a hook. Woodall’s first lawsuit regarding the original Moana was dismissed in November due to timing issues, but the release of Moana 2 has allowed him to refile.

‘Moana 2’, Once Destined For Disney+, Surpasses US$1 Billion Globally Amid Lawsuit

Disney denies these allegations, stating that the Moana films were not influenced by Woodall’s work. Co-director Ron Clements previously testified that the project was developed independently, stating, “Moana was not inspired by or based in any way on [Woodall] or his ‘Bucky’ project, which I learned of for the first time after this lawsuit was filed.” However, the court has acknowledged the possibility that someone within Disney Animation may have seen the Bucky materials during the early development phase of Moana.

Legal disputes aside, Moana 2 continues to garner accolades and is a strong contender in the upcoming awards season. Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, the film is also vying for an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song with ‘Beyond’.