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Dwayne Johnson’s movie career in 2024? Let’s just say it’s clinging toMoana 2like Maui holding onto his hook. You see, Johnson’s recent films haven’t exactly beenThe Rock-solid hits we’re used to. His franchises fizzled, his box office reign took a nosedive, and even his DC stint got zapped faster than a Black Adam lightning bolt.
ButMoana 2swooped in as the lone bright spot, smashing a record and giving his career a much-needed lifeline. It’s ironic, really — Maui’s magic might just be what keeps Johnson afloat in Tinseltown’s ever-shifting seas.
The Rock’s 2024 Box Office: A Lifeline NamedMoana 2
Dwayne Johnson’s 2024 box office game is hanging by a thread, butMoana 2is the lifeline. The Disney sequel poweredthrough Thanksgiving with a record-breaking opening, hitting a massive $200M over the five-day stretch. The film ultimately secured the No. 5 spot on the worldwide box office chart, raking in $600M.
Sure, it wasn’tInside Out 2‘s jaw-dropping $1.7B or evenDeadpool 3‘s $1.34B haul — but for Johnson, it was a career highlight in an otherwise rocky year. His other November release,Red One, opened strong at $32.1M but lacked staying power.
Highest-grossing Hollywood films at the worldwide box office (2024) 🍿1️⃣#InsideOut2— $1.7B2️⃣#Deadpool3— $1.34B3️⃣#DespicableMe4— $969M4️⃣#Dune2— $714.4M5️⃣#Moana2— $600M6️⃣#GodzillaXKong— $571.7M7️⃣#KungFuPanda4— $547.7M8️⃣#Venom3— $473M9️⃣#Wicked— $455.5M🔟…pic.twitter.com/WeCav8nMKk
Together, the two titles gave Johnson arare double No. 1 streak in the same calendar month— a feat not seen since Nicolas Cage pulled it off back in 1997 withCon Air($24.1M) andFace/Off($23.3M). What is even more impressive is thatMoana 2convincingly beat off competition fromWickedandGladiator II,two further projects that were expected to dominate proceedingsduring the Thanksgiving period.
Moana 2is not only leading comprehensively, as the tweet reveals, it also looks set to cross the $1 billion mark, which will make it the third movie in 2024 to do so. The other two, of course, areDeadpool & Wolverine,andInside Out 2.
Let’s not ignore the strategy behind this triumph. Johnson worked the media circuit like a pro, bouncing betweenRed One’s NYC premiere andMoana 2’s Hawaii and London debuts. Disney and Amazon MGM gave the star’s projects the red-carpet treatment, ensuring both films got their fair share of spotlight.
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But whileMoana 2secured its legacy, it also served as a reminder of how far Johnson’s box office dominance has slipped. In a year of billion-dollar hits likeInside Out 2andDeadpool 3, Johnson’s numbers didn’t quite flex the way they used to.
Still, withMoana 2as his 2024 highlight, The Rock proved he can still weather the storm — even if it takes a little Disney magic to do it.
From Animation to Reality: Dwayne Johnson’s Surprising Maui Transformation
Dwayne Johnson’s Maui transformationfor Disney’s live-actionMoanawasn’t what fans thought. Those “bulked-up” photos? A meticulously crafted bodysuit. The process took hours daily, with the production team battling paparazzi during outdoor shoots.
Filming this live-action adaptation proved eye-opening for Johnson, as playing Maui in flesh-and-blood felt worlds apart from voicing him in the animated hit. The film, slated for 2026, also stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana.
Meanwhile, Johnson celebratedMoana 2, the animated sequel that premiered this November, featuring adorable cameos from his daughters. From animation to live action, Maui remains a labor of love for Johnson.
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Moana 2hit theatres on August 03, 2025.
Heena Singh
Editor | Former Senior Writer
Articles Published :1457
Heena Singh is a Editor at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.
