Thanksgiving box office sets record with Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II leading holiday sales

Thanksgiving 2024 box office hits record-breaking $420 million, led by Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II.

Thanksgiving 2024 saw record-breaking box office numbers, driven by the success of three major blockbusters: Moana 2, Wicked, and Gladiator II. Between Wednesday and Sunday, the domestic box office grossed $420 million, surpassing the previous record of $315 million set in 2018. The previous Thanksgiving weekend had seen a significant slump in ticket sales, with only $125 million in 2023. This year’s strong performance has provided a much-needed boost, as pandemic-era box office recoveries had been slow.

The impressive turnout can be attributed to effective counterprogramming and films that catered to different demographics. Moana 2, aimed at families, topped the charts with $135 million over the weekend and $221 million over five days. Wicked, a musical adaptation starring Ariana Grande, grossed $80 million for the weekend and $117.5 million for the full five days, bringing its total to $262 million domestically. Ridley Scott's Gladiator II rounded out the top three, with $30.7 million for the weekend and $44 million over the holiday stretch, bringing its total domestic gross to $111.2 million.

This trio of films accounted for 75% of the total box office sales, providing a boost to the industry, which was previously down 10.6% compared to 2023. Despite the strong performance, overall box office revenue remains 24% behind 2019 levels, though the gap narrowed by 2.5% thanks to the Thanksgiving success.

While the positive momentum is encouraging, industry analysts caution that the holiday season may not sustain this trend. With fewer major releases slated for December, the box office faces uncertainty as it prepares for a quieter holiday period.