LOS ANGELES, Dec 1 (Reuters) -

Walt Disney's ( DIS ) animated musical "Moana 2" debuted

with an estimated $368 million in global ticket sales through

Sunday and combined with "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" to deliver

the biggest Thanksgiving weekend in U.S. and Canadian box office

history.

A sequel to the 2016 Walt Disney ( DIS ) animated film,

"Moana 2" reunites Auli'i Cravalho as the wayfinding title

character with demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, on a

voyage to break a curse and reunite the people of the ocean.

Initially envisioned as a series for the Disney+

streaming service, "Moana 2" racked up a record $221 million

from domestic ticket sales over the Thanksgiving period from

Wednesday through Sunday. That surpassed "Frozen 2's" holiday

haul of $125 million in 2019.

For all movies in theaters this weekend, the domestic

total hit $420 million, smashing the 2018 Thanksgiving record of

$315.6 million led by "Ralph Breaks the Internet" and "Creed

II."

The results provided Hollywood studios and cinemas a

reason to celebrate after prolonged closures during the COVID-19

pandemic and concerns that audiences might abandon theaters in

favor of staying home to watch streaming TV.

"If you make the right movie, a movie with heart and

humor that appeals to audiences, they will come to the theater,"

Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman said at a recent

"Moana 2" screening in Los Angeles.

They also showed Hollywood had rebounded from

disruptions caused by the 2023 strikes by writers and actors.

Chains such as AMC Entertainment ( AMC ) and Cineworld

were left with a thin schedule for moviegoers in the first half

of this year.

"Wicked," the adaptation of a beloved Broadway musical

that is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," brought in $117.5

million over Thanksgiving. Its global total after two weekends

in theaters reached $359.2 million, distributor Universal

Pictures said.

Action epic "Gladiator II," the sequel to a best picture

winner two decades ago, hauled in $44 million domestically over

the holiday and brought its global total to $320 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore,

said this weekend's turnout would likely fuel strong sales in

the coming weeks. He cited a number of potential hits reaching

theaters in December to "help the industry take the year out on

a high note."

They include "Kraven the Hunter," the animated "Lord of

the Rings: the War of the Rohirrim," "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and

"Mufasa: The Lion King," he said.