Eight years after the first movie’s premiere, Moana 2 is hitting theaters in 2024, and if the response to the sequel’s trailer is any indication of its success, Disney should be excited about its premiere (especially since Disney hasn’t released a $1 billion film in five years). The animated adventure movie, directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, was originally developed as a television show for Disney+. Walt Disney Animation Studios reworked the Moana sequel into a feature film because executives seemingly concluded it would be more profitable (and they will likely be proven right).

Not much is known about Moana 2‘s story aside from the vague contents of its first teaser trailer (which broke a Disney record) and its obscure premise. What is known is that the Moana sequel will take place three years after the events of the first film when Moana receives a mysterious call from her wayfinding ancestors. Moana answers the call, of course, and sets out on another journey at sea alongside Maui, Pua, and Heihei, as they strive to reconnect the people of Oceania, and many are excited to see it all play out on the big screen.

Disney Hasn’t Had A $1 Billion Animated Movie Since 2019 – Here’s Why

Frozen II Was The Last Disney Film To Pass The $1 Billion Mark

2019 was the last time Walt Disney Animation Studios (and its subsidiary, Pixar Animation Studios) released an animated film that grossed more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Toy Story 4 premiered in June 2019 and earned $1.073 billion, and it was followed by The Lion King in July (which made over $1.6 billion) and Frozen II in November (which grossed $1.45 billion). So, Frozen II is the most recent Disney movie to earn $1 billion or more, and numerous factors can be attributed to Disney’s five-year dry spell.

Of course, the most obvious reason why Disney hasn’t produced an animated film that grossed $1 billion at the box office since 2019 is the COVID-19 pandemic. Theaters were significantly affected by the mandated lockdowns, and since production studios could no longer distribute their movies the traditional way, they turned to streaming, including Disney. The company debuted Soul, Turning Red, and Luca on Disney+ instead of cinemas. Even after lockdowns were lifted and people started filtering back into movie theaters, Disney struggled to profit from their releases, let alone having them pass the $1 billion mark.

The company’s baffling release strategy also contributed to Disney’s animation struggles. For example, Strange World, which premiered on November 23, 2022, in theaters, was added to Disney+’s catalog one month later, on December 23. Consumers have become accustomed to new films coming to streaming platforms shortly after their theatrical runs. If someone is already paying for a streaming service, it makes sense to save their money by skipping the theaters and waiting to watch new movies in the comfort of their home. Consequently, Frozen II is Disney’s last $1 billion film, but that could change with Moana 2.

Moana 2 Broke Disney Trailer Viewing Records – Is $1Bn At The Box Office Coming?

The Moana Sequel Could Break Disney’s 5-Year Curse

Given that Disney hasn’t released a $1 billion film in five years, Moana 2 might be the company’s best chance at returning to its former glory. The Moana 2 trailer broke a major record for Disney animated movies as the teaser video received 178 million views within the 24 hours after it was dropped. As a result, the Moana sequel now holds the Disney record for most views in 24 hours for an animated film’s trailer. Inside Out 2‘s trailer previously held the record since it gained 157 million views in its first 24 hours.

Due to Moana 2‘s impressive new record, there’s hope that the upcoming movie will be able to break Disney’s five-year curse and gross $1 billion or more at the box office. Sequels tend to perform better for the animation studio, so it wasn’t expected to be a box office failure. But the growing hype around the musical fantasy adventure film might signal it will be an overwhelming success.

Of course, an abundance of trailer views doesn’t necessarily mean people will come out in droves to see a film in theaters. However, while the first movie earned $687.2 million in 2016, Moana has been gaining popularity in recent years (Moana was the most-streamed movie of 2023). The sequel is also premiering the week of Thanksgiving, which is known to be a prime time for theatrical releases. By adding all these things together, it seems as if Moana 2 has a good shot at being Disney’s first animated project to earn $1 billion since Frozen II in 2019.

Will Moana 2’s Box Office Help Or Hurt The Live-Action Moana Remake?

The Live-Action Remake Of Moana Will Premiere In 2026

Moana 2 will undoubtedly be a box office success (whether it crosses the $1 billion threshold or not), but one can’t help but wonder if its achievements will help or hurt Disney’s upcoming live-action version of the first film. The sequel’s triumphs will certainly draw more attention to the 2026 movie. However, more focus on Moana 2 could make audiences want more animated projects and be less concerned with the live-action one. Disney’s remakes are also notorious for being much worse than the original animated films. So, even Moana 2‘s box office accomplishments likely won’t help the Moana live-action remake.