Moana 2 Trailer Breaks Disney Animation Records

This week marked a historic moment for Disney's animated empire as the trailer for "Moana 2" shattered records, garnering an impressive 178 million views within its first 24 hours. This milestone surpasses the viewership of any other trailer for a film in the history of Disney Animation Studios and Pixar combined.

In terms of trailer viewership, "Moana 2" surpassed the previous records set by Pixar's "Inside Out 2" with 157 million views and Disney Animation's "Frozen 2" with 116 million views. It even outperformed Pixar's "Incredibles 2," which had 113 million views.

The anticipation for "Moana 2" is palpable, with the trailer set to play before the highly anticipated release of "Inside Out 2" in theaters on June 14. Projections indicate a strong opening for the Pixar sequel, expected to rake in between $80 million to $85 million, with some estimates suggesting it could exceed $90 million. Both films are heralded as good news for Disney's animation empire, particularly Pixar, which has faced challenges in recent times.

"Moana 2," slated for release on November 27, reunites the voices of Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and the demigod Maui, respectively. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film follows Moana on an unexpected adventure through long-lost waters after a call from her ancestors.

Originally conceived as a television series, "Moana 2" evolved into a theatrical sequel, featuring new songs from Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. The film is produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino.

In addition to the animated sequel, Disney and Dwayne Johnson are collaborating on a live-action remake of "Moana," slated for release on July 10, 2026, under the direction of Thomas Kail.

The enduring popularity of the original "Moana," released in 2016 and grossing over $687 million globally, continues to resonate, earning the title of the most-streamed movie across all platforms in 2023, according to Nielsen.