The domestic box office is poised for its biggest Thanksgiving haul since the pandemic thanks to a Polynesian princess, a pair of witches and a revenge-fueled gladiator.

Critics can’t sink Moana 2. Disney’s animated musical sailed into theaters Wednesday on a wave of tepid reviews, which haven’t impacted ticket sales: the movie’s $13.8 million in Tuesday previews set a record for Walt Disney Animation Studios and the second-best for an animated title behind Pixar’s Incredibles 2 ($18.

Disney’s “Moana 2” is off and racing at the box office. Despite taking place on a Tuesday night, preview screenings for the hotly anticipated sequel yielded a stunning $13.8 million, second only to the $18 million for Pixar’s “The Incredibles 2” in summer 2018 for the highest ever preview total for an animated film.