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ASSOCIATED PRESS
This image released by Disney shows characters Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, right, and Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, in a scene from the animated film, “Moana.”
NEW YORK >> Disney’s South Pacific animated tale “Moana” fell short of a “Frozen”-sized debut, but it nevertheless dominated the Thanksgiving box office with an estimated $81.1 million over the five-day weekend.
The well-reviewed “Moana,” set in ancient Polynesia, earned $55.5 million from Friday to Sunday. It didn’t match the 2013 Thanksgiving release of “Frozen,” which opened with $93.6 million. But “Moana” scored the second-highest Turkey Day debut ever.
Falling to second was J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” which earned $65.8 million over the five-day weekend.
Those releases far outpaced more star-driven films.
The Brad Pitt-Marion Cotillard World War II romance “Allied” opened with a mediocre $18 million over five days. Warren Beatty’s first film in 15 years, “Rules Don’t Apply,” bombed with $2.2 million over the five-day weekend.
How can this be true if Sunday is not over yet? It’s still early!
Pretty movie, boring story.
Looks like Lee Cataluna’s review of this movie was all wrong. What you expect from a rookie reviewer.
Nah, I think Cataluna may be right. The movie was beautiful, but Catalina was right that the story, the message, the “heart” of the movies falls way short of being memorable or enduring.
Why wife and I went to see “MOANA”. Definitely a four star rated movie. It was very entertaining. Just an excellent movie. I honestly didn’t expect that much because I don’t like animation movies.
I also went on-line an watched the interview with the local girl who was the voice of Moana.
I didn’t know Lee Cataluna reviewed this movie.
Cant wait to see this movie…..