Disney's Triumphant Comeback: D23 Highlights and Future Plans

Walt Disney celebrates a triumphant return to the top of the box office with 'Inside Out 2' and 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. The D23 convention opened with a live performance from 'Moana 2'. With upcoming releases that include 'Snow White' and 'Avatar 3', Disney's future looks promising.

Walt Disney, which reclaimed the top of the summer box office with Pixar's 'Inside Out 2' and Marvel's 'Deadpool & Wolverine', kicked off its D23 fan convention Friday with a live performance from the eagerly anticipated animated film 'Moana 2'. Dwayne Johnson, joined by Auli’i Cravahlo and Hawaiian dancers, told the 12,000 attendees that in reprising his role as Maui, he would once again be singing, 'Singing in keys that don't exist.'

The film reaches theaters on Nov. 27. The company highlighted its strong movie lineup during an investor call this week, marking a return to form after losing its place as the highest-grossing Hollywood studio in 2023.

'It's never too late to have that big Hollywood comeback,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. 'And they've certainly had that.' 'Inside Out 2' is now the highest-grossing animated film ever, with a global tally of $1.6 billion, surpassing the previous record set by 'Frozen II.' A month later, 'Deadpool & Wolverine' enjoyed the best domestic opening for an R-rated film, grossing over $850 million worldwide.