This confluence of blockbusters is not normally seen on the cinema roster until late December. However, Christmas has come early for the box office in 2024 with the aligned release of three major movies. Moana 2 secured $221m (£176m) in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, setting a new record for Thanksgiving moviegoing.

Instead of lounging on the couch after Thanksgiving, Americans headed to movie theaters, as the premiere of Disney’s “Moana 2” and the draw of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” provided a big boost to the domestic box office.

Disney’s “Moana 2” brought in $221 million in U.S. ticket sales over the five-day holiday weekend, making it the highest-grossing Thanksgiving release of all time and contributing to a record-breaking holiday box office stretch.