MOOSIC, Pa. — The popcorn was overflowing at Cinemark in Moosic as families flooded the lobby for a tidal wave opening of Moana 2.
"I did not expect it to be as crowded as it was, especially for Moana. But it really was," said Tiana Cardona of Moscow.
Many kids enjoyed their long holiday weekend off from school by sitting through Disney's biggest sequel. Cardona brought her daughter, Mia Bodine, to see the movie before kicking off their holiday shopping.
"I like how she came back from her adventure in the first part. I like the music," said Bodine.
"There's a lot of different characters and villains," said 11-year-old Nora Hall of Scranton. She came to see the movie for the first time with her sister and grandmother.
There's a major line-up on the big screen happening in addition to Moana—Gladiator 2 and Red One, both drawing major crowds.
While Wicked is still casting a spell over theatergoers of all ages, "I liked her [Elphaba]," said Ava Koehler, pointing to her Wicked-themed shirt. "She's my favorite!"
"It was awesome, [Ava] was singing right along. I couldn't tell her no," said Ava's grandmother, Debbie Koehler of Mountain Top.
But dressing up wasn't just for the tiniest ones in the theater. Lynn Mitchell of Jessup proudly wore a witch hat as she entered the Cinemark lobby.
"I dressed up as Elphaba for Halloween, and I scared everybody in the neighborhood, and I just scared some kids outside, too," laughed Mitchell.
The excitement trickled through the holiday weekend as Cinemark broke multiple records.
- Best Thanksgiving five-day box office
- Highest Thanksgiving Day box office
- Most single-day attendees in the post-pandemic era on Friday, November 29
- Highest single-day food and beverage revenue ever on Friday, November 29
- Among one of the biggest food and beverage weekends of all time
- Top-grossing November premium format weekend of all time, including D-BOX motion seats and Cinemark XD, the world’s No.1 exhibitor-branded premium large format
Cinemark theaters across the country also saw the most single-day audiences since the pandemic as people packed into the movies in Moosic.
"We were going to come yesterday, but it didn't work out. By the time I was going to get tickets, we would've been up by the screen," added Koehler.
Those having high expectations for some of the year's biggest hits.
"I'm feeling very good. I think it's going to be very good. I'll try not to sing," added Mitchell.
There's already big plans at the box office for next Thanksgiving, including Zootopia 2 and Wicked Part Two.