There were some oversized expectations for the animated film but “Moana 2", originally intended as a series for the company’s streaming service before it was produced for the big screen — blew predictions out of the water. Its five-day opening set a new record for Thanksgiving moviegoing.

The box office success of Moana 2 helped push Disney’s earnings up 27 per cent in its fiscal first quarter and offset declines at its theme parks group, which was impacted by two hurricanes in Florida and the cost of expanding its cruise line.