Disney’s ‘Hexed’ Box Office Tracking Points to the Biggest Original Animated Debut Since ‘Moana’

Original animated films have had a rough ride at the box office in recent years, and Walt Disney Animation Studios has felt that sting more than most. That makes the early box office tracking for ‘Hexed’ one of the more interesting stories heading into Thanksgiving.

The film is the studio’s 65th animated feature, and it arrives in theaters on November 25 as an original story rather than a sequel. It is stepping into a holiday slot that Disney has dominated for years, though usually with a much bigger built-in audience.

Now the first long-range numbers are in, and they suggest ‘Hexed‘ could be Disney Animation’s strongest original opening in a decade. A figure of $75 million has been circulating online, but the published forecast tells a more measured story.

According to Boxoffice Pro’s long-range forecast, ‘Hexed’ is tracking for $35 million to $45 million over the 3-day weekend. Over the 5-day Thanksgiving frame, the projection rises to between $50 million and $70 million.

That is a strong result for an original, even if it falls short of the $75 million number making the rounds. Even the low end of the forecast would top the 5-day openings of ‘Encanto’ ($40.5 million), ‘Wish’ ($31.6 million) and ‘Strange World’ ($18.8 million).

‘Hexed’ is tracking for a $75M opening weekend, which would mark the biggest debut for an original Walt Disney Animation Studios film since ‘Moana’ (2016). (via BoxOffice Pro) https://t.co/IRFIDCK4p4

— ToonHive (@ToonHive) October 30, 2026

The comparison to ‘Moana’ is where the headline comes from. When the original film opened in 2016, it earned roughly $55.5 million over 3 days and about $81 million across the 5-day holiday, later finalized at $56.6 million for the weekend.

No original Disney Animation film has matched that since. ‘Hexed’ is not projected to beat it, but its tracking would be the best the studio has seen from a non-sequel in the years since.

The caveat is that Disney’s last 2 Thanksgiving releases were enormous sequels. ‘Moana 2’ earned $225 million domestically across the 5-day period, and both it and ‘Zootopia 2’ opened above $100 million for 3 days.

‘Hexed’ simply doesn’t have that head start, which is why the forecast looks modest next to them. Still, it is tracking ahead of the last 3 original animated films Disney released on Thanksgiving weekend, and some observers see it as a sign that audiences might be ready for something new.

‘Hexed’ follows Billie Doe, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, an awkward teenager who discovers that her unusual traits may point to a talent for magic. Alongside her cautious, Type A mother Alice, played by Rashida Jones, she ventures into a witch realm called Hexe to investigate family secrets.

Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins joined the voice cast at D23, with Foster making her first Disney animated film. Jim Hanks, CeeLo Green and Emilie-Claire Barlow also appear in the cast.

The film is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, with Josie Trinidad as co-director and Roy Conli producing. That team includes talent from ‘Wish’, ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Encanto’, giving the project a solid creative pedigree. A new short, ‘Lilo & Scratch’, will accompany the film in theaters.

Reaction online has been mixed. Some fans see the tracking as a welcome sign that audiences are showing up for non-franchise animation after years of sequels. Others have questioned how it is tracking so well when buzz around the film has felt quiet.

That tension is typical for original animation, where word of mouth often matters more than the first weekend. ‘Encanto’ is a good example, since it opened modestly but kept selling tickets for weeks and finished with $96 million in the U.S.

New trailer for Disney Animation’s next original film ‘HEXED’ In theaters on November 25. https://t.co/Un4IIYrPHe

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 12, 2026

The Thanksgiving frame looks quiet overall, with ‘Hexed’ and ‘Focker In-Law’ expected to lead, according to the same forecast. That could help Disney’s film stand out, particularly with families looking for something new to see together.

Of course, tracking is only a snapshot, and numbers will shift as the release date approaches. If reviews and audiences respond, ‘Hexed’ could finish as one of Disney’s biggest original hits in a long time.

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