Box Office Milestones: ‘Nosferatu’ Sinks Its Teeth Into $100 Million, ‘Moana 2’ Surges Toward $1 Billion

Robert Eggers’ atmospheric horror Nosferatu has reached a significant box office milestone, surpassing $100 million globally within just 10 days of release.

The gothic remake, a reimagining of the 1922 silent film and inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, is distributed by Focus Features. Starring Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd as the eerie Count Orlok, alongside Lily-Rose Depp and Nicholas Hoult, the film grossed $26.8 million this weekend across 61 international markets. Domestically, Nosferatu has brought in $69.4 million since its Christmas Day debut, bringing the global total to $100.3 million. With a production budget of $50 million—a sizable investment for an indie—Nosferatu has proven to have the staying power necessary to turn a profit.

Also making waves is Disney’s Moana 2, which has swum past $950 million globally, with the billion-dollar mark on the horizon. The animated sequel, initially conceived as a streaming release before pivoting to theaters, earned $26 million this weekend across 52 territories. Its $535 million international haul accounts for over half of its earnings, cementing Moana 2 as one of Disney’s top box office performers of the year. It follows in the footsteps of Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, which also joined the 2024 billion-dollar club.

Disney’s success continues with Mufasa: The Lion King, which remains a box office powerhouse. The prequel to the beloved Lion Kingfranchise added $53.5 million from 52 markets this weekend, pushing its international total to $307 million and its global total to $476.4 million. As it edges closer to the $500 million milestone, Mufasa demonstrates Disney’s consistent ability to dominate the animated and family entertainment sectors.

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Meanwhile, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sped to an impressive $51.2 million from 61 international markets over the weekend. The third installment of the franchise now boasts $336 million globally, with $148 million coming from overseas. This weekend’s performance also pushed the overall Sonic franchise past $1 billion in cumulative global earnings, making it a standout performer for Paramount. A fourth film in the series is already in development.

Universal’s Wicked adaptation continues to captivate audiences, adding $10.8 million from 81 international markets to its total. The film has now reached $681 million globally, surpassing Mamma Mia (2008) to become the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation of all time. As the first part of the two-film musical extravaganza, Wicked is setting high expectations for its sequel, Wicked: For Good, scheduled for release this November.

These box office milestones underline a resurgence in theater attendance, with audiences flocking to a mix of genres, from haunting arthouse reimaginings to vibrant animated adventures.