‘Moana’ expected to top Thanksgiving weekend box office

(photo courtesy of Reuters video file)
(photo courtesy of Reuters video file)

 

WALT DISNEY’S PICTURES (Reuters) — Disney’s “Moana” is expected to top the Thanksgiving weekend box office.

The animated movie which features Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as demi-god Maui with songs created by ‘Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, started off the extended five-day holiday break with $2.6 million worth of ticket sales on Thursday night (November 22) previews and is expected to net a total in the region of $85 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Last weekend’s box office topper, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is expected to be knocked into second place in its sophomore window with a healthy take of $58 million.

Also out this weekend are Brad Pitt spy thriller, “Allied,” comedy sequel “Bad Santa 2” and Warren Beatty-helmed comedy-drama, “Rules Don’t Apply” – they are expected to take $25 million, $13 million and $4.8 million respectively.

Also expected to hold strong over the festive break are “Trolls” and “Doctor Strange” with additional ticket sales of $19.1 million and $18.2 million putting them in fourth and fifth place in the top ten respectively.