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TikTok‘s ability to vault pop hits to a new tier of popularity is well known, but what about the people who craft those chart-topping songs? Songwriters play a crucial role in the flow of pop music on the For You Page, but TikTok’s track listings didn’t adequately credit those hitmakers — until now.

In a Newsroom post, TikTok announced an array of “Songwriter Features” that will help creators in the titular profession better identify themselves (and their work) on the app. A new label will allow songwriters to identify themselves at the top of their accounts, and a “Songwriter Music Tab” gives tunesmiths the space they need to showcase their latest and greatest compositions.

To promote the new features, TikTok has onboarded multiple notable songwriters, including Lauren Christy, Toby Gad, and Justin Tranter. Some of those artists — like Christy, a hitmaker for the likes of Rihanna and Dua Lipa...

The air in K-Pops! is thick with rhythm, a cinematic space defined by an energetic pulse from its opening frames. It introduces Bj, a musician of palpable talent whose career has settled into the comfortable stasis of a Los Angeles dive bar. His charisma is a bright, undeniable force, yet his ambitions have long been stalled, confined to the same stage night after night.

A sudden opportunity offers an escape from this loop: a plane ticket to Seoul and a steady gig as the house drummer for “Wildcard,” a televised K-pop competition of significant popularity. The film then arranges its pieces around a wildly improbable turn of events.

Amid the polished spectacle of the show, Bj discovers that a young, hopeful contestant is the son he never knew existed, a living secret from a romance that ended a dozen years prior. This revelation sets the film’s main action in motion,...

The ASCAP Foundation will honor Broadway composer and humanitarian Stephen Schwartz, along with artist and philanthropist Chandrika Tandon, with the ASCAP Foundation Champion Award at its 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 10, 2025. The intimate event will take place at the New York City home of Tony-winning composer Adam Guettel and will bring together music industry leaders, philanthropists and arts advocates to celebrate these two trailblazers and support the Foundation’s continued mission to empower the next generation of music creators. Composers and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will perform a tribute to Stephen Schwartz. Composer, pianist and singer-songwriter Emily Bear will perform and talk about her creative...

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament has returned, and as you’ll see from the most profitable films of 2024 that we’re disclosing, a movie’s game doesn’t end at the box office. Rather, its downstream revenues and subsequent home windows must be taken into account. Streaming continues to be a wildcard: While traditional motion picture studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount and Universal rely on lucrative pay two and pay three streamer deals to catapult their slates into the black, those streamers who’ve embraced theatrical (specifically Amazon MGM Studios and Apple Original Films) have a clandestine metric as to how they evaluate a movie’s post-cinema success. By traditional studio P&l standards, some of those releases would be considered flops. Given that, Apple and Amazon are excluded from this year’s survey. The Most Valuable Blockbuster series runs later rather than sooner as we gather...

Animated movies have long been crowd-pleasers, working with audiences of all ages. This can, perhaps, be attributed to the freedom that comes with the medium. With the genre’s history dating back to the late 1800s, it’s fascinating to see how animation has evolved from short, silent films to this billion-dollar culture machine.

A still from 2009’s Up | Credits: Walt Disney

While box office data began to be tracked in the 1920s, it wasn’t until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that animated films began breaking financial records. Today, a select group of these films has achieved rather extraordinary success, capturing the hearts (and wallets) of millions worldwide.

Let’s count down the animated movies that have made history, starting at number thirteen and working our way to the champion of the billion-dollar club. (You never know who overtakes them next).

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia is a funny film with a big message.

“Moana 2” has drawn 27.3 million views within the first five days of release on Disney+. It is now the third most successful Disney Animation theatrical film to hit the platform.

The film, which features Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson stepping back into their roles as Moana and Maui, respectively, had the largest Disney Animation premiere since “Encanto.”

The first “Moana,” which has amassed 1.4 billion hours streamed, is the most streamed film on Disney+ since the platform’s debut in 2019.

“Moana 2,” which was originally meant to be a Disney+ television show, was released in theaters on Nov. 28 and went on to earn more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

The sequel was directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, David G. Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand. Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear handled the music for the film, replacing Lin-Manuel Miranda who wrote the first film’s songs. Nicole Scherzinger, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda,...

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Moana 2 is homeward bound. The seafaring sequel to the hit 2016 film is now streaming exclusively on Disney+, and we caught up with two of the film’s directors, David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, who discussed the “constant evolution” of developing the story from a series to a theatrical release.

At a Glance: How to Stream Moana 2

Streaming: Disney+ Buy on Digital: Amazon Prime, Apple TV...

This March, get ready for an action-packed lineup on Disney+. The streaming service is set to release a slew of new titles, including the highly anticipated return of Marvel’s “Daredevil: Born Again.” The series will kick off with a two-episode premiere on Tuesday, March 4th, welcoming back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, who faces new and old adversaries in his ongoing quest for justice in the gritty streets of the city.

Alongside Daredevil, Disney+ is introducing the second season of “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” continuing the adventures of the youngest trainees in the galaxy. Fans of magic and mystery will be treated to “David Blaine Do Not Attempt,” a new docuseries starting on March 24th that features the renowned illusionist in a series of breathtaking feats.

Adding to the family fun, Disney+ will also premiere “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip” on March 28th.

We finally have a release date for “Moana 2” on Disney+. According to Variety the film will release on March 12, 2025.

“Moana 2” is going home to Disney+

Originally “Moana 2” was meant for Disney+, but Bob Iger decided to take what was show and turn it into a feature film. Unfortunately, many people said that you could tell it was meant to be a show.

The show, thenfilm, was done in a Canadian studio Disney set up. Sadly the voice actors in the show will never get heard because when it was retooled Disney brought back original voice actors who would do the film but not the show. Dwayne Johnson returned as Maui and Auli’i Cravalho returned as Moana.

The film performed well theatrically taking in over $1 billion worldwide.

The synopsis for “Moana 2” reads,

“Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors.

Gold Derby's top news stories for Feb. 25, 2025. Watch the trailer for Nicole Kidman's Holland

Amazon dropped the trailer for its new thriller Holland. Directed by Mimi Cave and written by Andrew Sodroski, the film is set in tulip-filled Holland, Mich., and follows Nancy Vandergroot (Nicole Kidman), a teacher and homemaker whose idyllic life with her husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) turns upside-down after she and (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret that reveals nothing in their lives is what it seems. Holland will premiere at South by Southwest before hitting Prime Video on March 27.

Jon Bernthal to return in Punisher special

The Punisher will return. Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, will reprise the role in a new standalone Marvel special. Bernthal, who can next be seen as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, is writing the script with his We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green,...

After earning over $1 billion at the box office, Moana 2 is now available to watch online at home.

The hit animated sequel to the 2016 musical blockbuster arrives on Disney+ on March 12. Until then, Moana 2 can be purchased on digital for home streaming at Apple TV, Prime Video and other premium video-on-demand platforms, or on disc with a digital code.

At a glance: How to stream Moana 2 online

Disney+ release date: March 12 Buy or rent online: Apple TV, Prime Video Stream online: Disney+ Get DisneY+

Moana 2 follows Moana (voiced by returning star Auli’i Cravalho) three years after she first set sail with the demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore the heart of Tefiti and save her home island of Motonui. Now a big sister to Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), Moana once again must venture beyond the seas of Oceana to answer a call from her ancestors. The sequel features...

Experience Moana and Maui’s latest adventure at home when Disney’s Moana 2 arrives to Disney+ on March 12. The highly anticipated sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios fan favorite is the #3 highest-grossing film of 2024 and crossed a billion dollars at the global box office making it the fourth Wdas film ever to do so.

Disney’s Moana 2 is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and fans alike having hailed Disney’s Moana 2 as “a fantastic voyage”, “Gorgeous”, and “a joyous adventure the whole family will love”.

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Film Synopsis

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters...

Disney has set the Moana 2 Disney+ release date for March 12, 2025. The blockbuster film has grossed $1.053 billion worldwide, with $458.8 million coming from North American theaters and $594.6 million from international markets.

The highly anticipated sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios (Wdas) fan favorite is the #3 highest-grossing film of 2024 and is the fourth Wdas film ever to cross the billion-dollar mark.

Disney’s Moana 2 is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and fans alike having hailed the film as “a fantastic voyage”, “Gorgeous”, and “a joyous adventure the whole family will love”.

The Moana 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous,...

“Moana 2,” the sequel to the Oscar-nominated film about a young Polynesian woman on a quest to break an ancient curse, will be available to stream on Disney+ on March 12.

Initially developed as a Disney+ TV series for streaming, “Moana 2” was revamped into a film with a theatrical release. The adjustment was said to be a strategic decision on the part of Disney to maximize revenue and profitability. It paid off because “Moana 2” made more than $1 billion at the box office and became the third highest-grossing movie of 2024.

The movie “reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

“Moana 2” was directed by the trio of David G. Derrick Jr.,...

The Society of Composers and Lyricists announced its 2025 awards recipients at the sixth annual Scl Awards.

Composers and lyricists gathered together for a dinner and ceremony hosted by singer-songwriter Colin Hays, held at the Skirball Cultural Center. The evening opened with a performance of “Lean on Me” — meant to bring the community together after the recent wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles.

While the night’s atmosphere was overall celebratory, the awards ceremony took several opportunities to acknowledge the recent tragedy in the city. Composer Starr Parodi, who lost her home in the Palisades Fire, was given a replacement plaque for her previously earned jury award on stage.

Among the top awardees for the night were Daniel Blumberg for The Brutalist, Diane Warren for The Six Triple Eight, Kris Bowers for The Wild Robot and Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Luca Guadagnino for Challengers.

Composer Harry Gregson-William accepted the Spirit...

The Wild Robot‘s Oscar prospects may have gotten a boost on Wednesday as the Society of Composers and Lyricists announced its sixth annual award winners. The animated feature won Best Original Score for a Studio Film, defeating three of its Oscar rivals: Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and Conclave. The last of this year’s Best Score Oscar nominees, The Brutalist, competed in another category at the Scl Awards, winning Best Original Score for an Independent Film.

So does that mean the Oscar will come down to The Wild Robot and The Brutalist? In the Scl Awards’ previous five years, they agreed with the Oscars three times: Joker (2019), Soul (2020), and Oppenheimer (2023). In 2021, the Scl voted for Encanto (studio) and The Green Knight (independent), but the Oscar went to Dune. And for 2022, the Scl picked Nope (studio) and Everything Everywhere All at Once (independent), while the Oscars opted for All Quiet on the Western Front.

We finally have a date for when you can enjoy Moana 2 at home with a big physical media release!

Much has been made about Disney seemingly backing out of the physical releases for movies game. The once-dominant way of watching a movie at home has lowered over the years with the rise of streaming services. Disney themselves discontinued their Disney Movie Club.

However, there is still an audience who will always prefer having a movie to watch at home on disc rather than rely on a streaming service with its various problems. Now, Disney has announced when Moana 2 will hit!

Per Disney and Amazon, Moana 2 comes to Blu-Ray, DVD, 4K Uhd and a 4K Steelbook on March 17. It’s already set to pre-order.

The sequel to the 2016 animated hit, Moana 2 was originally intended to be an animated TV series. It was reworked into a full-length movie with reviews a bit mixed.

Disney’s Moana 2 is sailing to 4K Uhd and other physical media formats in March – and it comes with a lot of extras…

Disney had a pretty big year with Pixar’s Inside Out 2, Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine and Moana 2 topping the 2024 list of highest-grossing films. You’d think such a huge company had money to pay more attention to their blockbuster posters…

After a successful run in cinemas, Moana 2 is now heading to physical media formats. The animated sequel will be available on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD and you can also get a 4K Steelbook version. Those will all hit shelves on 17th March. You can pre-order that on Amazon. There will also be a box-set with both Moana and Moana 2 included.

The physical editions come with a variety of extras and we’ve put them all on a list here, because...

Disney had a spectacular 2024, releasing several successful sequels. Among them was Moana 2, which, after a stunning theatrical run with a $1 billion run, is heading to digital soon.

Per Disney, Moana has gotten into her new, updated boat with her new crew, as the hit sequel is now sailing on digital. The news didn't come just with the digital rental and purchase because the House of Mouse came bearing gifts. As it was announced, the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD will also be out on Mar. 18. With the bonus features, Disney also added a special clip of Simea, Moana's adorable little sister, which Cbr can exclusively debut.

Related Moana 2 On the Verge of More Box Office History After Crossing $1 Billion

Moana 2 has one more milestone in its sights after attaining billion-dollar status this past weekend.

Moana 2 is available to rent at all the major PVOD websites,...

Grab a coconut-flavored beverage and prepare to dance because Disney’s Moana 2 comes to digital platforms today, January 28! Moana and Maui’s latest adventure swings onto digital retailers, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, before arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on March 18.

While the digital release brings the third highest-grossing film of 2024 to homes across the globe, the physical release comes packed with hours of exclusive bonus content to take the viewing experience further than ever before. Do you want to sing along to the movie’s catchy tunes, check out deleted scenes, and explore featurettes? The physical release has you covered with many options to enhance the fun. Oh, and for collectors, the 4K Uhd will be available in a collectible edition Steelbook with custom artwork and packaging.

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years after the first film’s...

Moana and Maui’s latest adventure is coming home when Disney’s Moana 2 arrives at digital retailers today and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18.

The sequel to the Walt Disney Animation Studios fan favorite is the third-highest-grossing film of 2024 and recently crossed a billion dollars at the global box office. It is the fourth Wdas film ever to do so.

The Moana 2 digital and Blu-ray release goes far beyond with hours of exclusive bonus content for the whole family featuring a full-length Sing-Along version of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes and much more. The 4K Uhd will be available in a collectible limited edition SteelBook with custom artwork and packaging.

Moana 2 reunites Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana...

Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance took the award for Best Feature at the annual Girls On Film Awards while Emilia Pérez and Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste took awards for Best Ensemble and Best Actress respectively.

The fourth edition of the awards, which were held at London’s Curzon Bloomsbury on Sunday, celebrated exceptional achievements by women and people of marginalized genders in the film space. Hosted by Girls On Film co-founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, the awards put a spotlight on women-led filmmaking with a particular focus on diversity, inclusion and representation.

Fargeat, who is nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards this year, was in attendance to collect her award and she told the audience that The Substance “was meant for me to mirror what women have to face in their everyday life by society and it’s not nice, it’s not subtle and it’s not delicate.

Disney’s Moana 2, released during the long Thanksgiving weekend, has officially surpassed the $1 Billion box office mark worldwide. Originally meant to be a television series on the streaming platform, this decision to launch it as a feature film was a strategic win for Disney.

Moana 2 | Credit: Disney

Building on the immense popularity of the original Moana from 2016, which remains a top favorite on Disney+, the sequel quickly joined the billion-dollar club, achieving this milestone in just eight weekends. Moana 2 is the third 2024 movie by Disney that entered the billion club, following Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine.

Despite the mixed critical reviews, Moana 2 was able to succeed in securing a top spot. However, this box office success raises concerns among some moviegoers who argue that the film has made zero impact on audiences. This trend holds the potential to create negative consequences for Hollywood.

Billion club member,...

“Moana 2,” which started as a planned streaming series for Disney+, has reached global box office records. The animated sequel earned $1.01 billion worldwide – $445 million from domestic sales and $567 million internationally. Disney now has three movies making over a billion dollars this year: “Moana 2,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

The movie opened on November 28 and set new records during Thanksgiving weekend with $225 million in five days, exceeding “Frozen II’s” previous record of $125 million. Though critics gave mixed reviews, audiences kept returning to theaters. The film stayed among the top five movies for seven straight weeks. In its eighth week, it reached sixth place, making $6.1 million that weekend and $8.4 million during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday period.

Made with $150 million, the film switched from a planned Disney+ series to a theater release. The results show that movies in theaters still make money and affect culture, even as streaming grows.

“Moana 2,” originally conceived as a television show for streaming, is officially a billion-dollar box office smash.

The animated sequel has generated $445 million domestically and $567 million internationally, bringing its grand total to $1.009 billion globally after eight weekends of release. “Moana 2″ is Disney’s third 2024 release to join the billion-dollar club following “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” capping off a stellar 12 months for the film studio. None of its rivals fielded a single $1 billion release in 2024, though Universal was closest with “Despicable Me 4” ($969 million).

“Moana 2” opened on Nov. 28 and cemented a Thanksgiving box office record with $225 million over the five-day holiday frame, obliterating the previous benchmark set by 2019’s “Frozen II” with $125 million. Despite mixed critical reviews, the film benefitted from positive word-of-mouth among moviegoers and remained in the top five on domestic charts for seven consecutive weekends. Now it its eighth frame, “Moana 2” landed at No.

Leading contenders for the Society of Composers & Lyricists’ 2025 Scl Awards include “Emilia Pérez” composers Clément Ducol and Camille, who picked up three nominations, for their score and for two original songs from the musical drama. Matching that number as an individual was Atticus Ross, whose three nominations are split between his scoring work on “Shōgun” and a song for “Challengers.”

The Scl’s nominations in eight film, television and interactive media categories were announced Wednesday morning, with the awards program scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 12. Scroll down to see the full list of nominees.

The org’s annual Spirit of Collaboration Award will be given at the event to composer Harry Gregson-Williams and director Ridley Scott, in honor of an ongoing partnership that has resulted in “Gladiator II” being their seventh film together. Last year the same award went to Martin Scorsese and the late Robbie Robertson.

Oscar-Grammy-Emmy winner Atticus Ross and the duo behind the music in Emilia Pérez lead the nominees at the 2025 Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards.

Ross earned two nominations for his musical work on Shogun and a nod for “Compress/Repress” from Challengers. Clément Ducol and Camille received three nominations for the Netflix film starring Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez, including two bids for outstanding original song for a comedy or musical visual media production. Ross, Ducol and Camille’s works have been shortlisted at the Academy Awards; nine of the 15 songs shortlisted are nominated at the Scl Awards, while six scores shortlisted made the Scl list.

The 6th annual Scl Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in music for visual media, will be held in Los Angeles on Feb. 12 and hosted by singer-songwriter Colin Hay.

Other nominees include Miley Cyrus for “Beautiful That Way” from The Last Showgirl; Elton John and...

The Society of Composers & Lyricists has charted the nominees for its 2025 Scl Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in music for visual media. Emilia Pérez composers Clément Ducol and Camille and Challengers and Shōgun composer Atticus Ross lead the field with three noms each. See the full list below.

The hardware will be handed out during the sixth annual Scl Awards on February 12 in Los Angeles. Men at Work’s Colin Hay will host the ceremony.

The group also said today that Gladiator II composer Harry Gregson-Williams and filmmaker Ridley Scott will receive its 2025 Spirit of Collaboration Award, which recognizes a composer-director relationship that has created a prodigious body of work. Gregson-Williams also has penned the original scores for Scott’s The Martian, Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel and House of Gucci and themes for Prometheus and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

“Ridley is an open book when it comes to music,...

Another day, another sign of industry support for Emilia Pérez.

On Wednesday, the Society of Composers and Lyricists announced its 2025 Scl Awards nominations with Netflix’s Spanish-language cartel musical out in front with three nominations.

The ceremony will take place on Feb. 12.

Emilia Pérez composers and songwriters Clément Ducol and Camille earned three nominations as did Atticus Ross, who received two nominations for Challengers and one for the television series Shōgun.

Other highlights: Diane Warren was nominated for The Six Triple Eight, the sixth consecutive year she’s up for an Scl Award. Harry Gregson-Williams and director Ridley Scott will also be honored with the Spirit of Collaboration Award, “which recognizes a composer/director relationship that has created a prodigious body of work.”

The duo has worked together seven times, including this year on Gladiator II.

“Ridley is an open book when it comes to music, and working with him...

While last year’s Oscar original song short list was dominated by pop stars such as Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo, this year’s lineup is filled with several ditties from musically themed movies such as Emila Perez, Moana 2, The Lion King, Piece by Piece to name a few with Oscar vets such as Diane Warren, Nicholas Britell and more eyeing a potential return to the Dolby Theatre on March 2.

Today, AMPAS cleared 15 songs as finalists for Oscar’s original song category which will be whittled down to five when nominations are announced on Jan. 17, 2025.

The most eyebrow-raising snub in original song by the Academy goes to the Miley Cyrus end credits tune “Beautiful This Way” from Roadside Attractions’ Pamala Anderson comeback The Last Showgirl. The Cyrus, Lykke Li and Andrew Wyatt-penned song is nominated at the Golden Globes. Note the Disney Channel alum Cyrus has...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the scripts behind awards season’s most talked-about movies continues with Moana 2, Disney’s wave-making sequel that arrived the day before Thanksgiving at the box office and hasn’t dropped anchor since.

Opening up a week after Wicked and Gladiator II were released, the animated sequel adventure has now totaled $717 million at the worldwide box office, split $337.5M domestically and $379.5M internationally. It also just picked up a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Move.

The film, written by Jared Bush and co-director Dana Ledoux Miller, was originally set to be a Disney TV series. The story takes place three years after the events of the first Moana, which made a successful splash in 2016, scoring Oscar nominations in Animated Feature and Original Song for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “How Far I’ll Go.”

The original film followed the young heroine (voiced by Auli‘I Cravalho...

Songs by Pharrell, Elton John, and Lainey Wilson, as well as multiple selections from Emelia Pérez, have made the Oscars’ shortlist for Best Original Song.

Pharrell’s “Piece by Piece,” the title track from his animated Lego biopic, made the cut, as did John’s “Never Too Late,” co-written with Brandi Carlile and Andrew Watt for his recent documentary. And Wilson secured a shortlist nod for her contribution to Twisters, “Out of Oklahoma,” co-written with Luke Dick and Shane McAnally.

The two songs from Emilia Pérez to make the shortlist...

The shortlists for the music categories have been revealed for the 97th Academy Awards, with 15 contenders for Best Original Song and 20 semifinalists for Best Original Score now one step closer to potentially earning Oscar nominations when they’re announced on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.

The two frontrunners from “Emilia Pérez” — “El Mal” and “El Camino” — are both among the 15 shortlisted songs. Expectedly, the song category includes several high-profile singers, musicians and songwriters, such as Pharrell Williams, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Lainey Wilson, Maren Morris, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robbie Williams, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Surprising Oscar contender Kristen Wiig, who co-wrote “Harper and Will Go West” from Will Ferrell’s “Will & Harper” documentary, also keeps her hopes alive for her first Academy Award nomination.

Diane Warren’s inclusion for her latest song “The Journey,” which is featured in Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight,” brings the potential for her eighth consecutive Oscar...

Journey To The Far Seas — In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2,” Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. The all-new feature film opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It’s been eight years since Moana introduced us to young Moana and the demigod Maui as they set off on a magical adventure. Now, the pair have returned for another round in Moana 2. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson have returned to their respective roles, as have a few of the original Moana voices,...

By all accounts, Moana 2 is a commercial hit for Disney. The sequel to the 2016 animated film sees Moana embark on an expansive new voyage to the far seas of Oceania alongside Maui and a crew of unlikely seafarers.

The sequel features the return of both Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui, respectively, and is once again a musical adventure. Only this time, Lin-Manuel Miranda did not write the music.

Instead, Moana 2 features music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. The songwriting duo shared a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2022 for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.

Despite the talent attached to Moana 2, it's widely agreed that the music is not nearly on the same level as its predecessor. Many believed that Lin-Manuel Miranda passed on Moana 2 so that he could write the music for Mufasa: The Lion King. In case...

Lin-Manuel Miranda's music was instrumental to the critical acclaim and success of the first Moana back in 2016, so many were shocked he didn't return to compose the music for Moana 2. What was more shocking was that Miranda was still working with Disney, as he wrote original music for the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to 2019's The Lion King, which opens just weeks after Moana 2. Why did Miranada pick Mufasa over Moana 2? Well, it turns out it wasn't as simple as choosing one over the other.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Miranda revealed that he was already working on Mufasa: The Lion King when Moana 2 was announced as a feature film. He notes that Moana 2 songwriters Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, commonly known as Barlow and Bear, were already working on music for the planned Moana television series before upgrading it...

Original Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda explains why he didn't return to write any songs for Moana 2. Though Moana was a respectable success in theaters upon its release in 2016, the film really took off years later on Disney+, where it continually ranked as one of the most-watched streaming movies. After starting life as a TV show, Moana 2 released in theaters last month, featuring songs written by Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, with Miranda thought to have chosen Mufasa: The Lion King over the Disney sequel.

During a recent interview with THR, Miranda sets the record straight on his Moana 2 absence, explaining that it wasn't a matter of choosing between Moana 2 and Mufasa. According to Miranda, the sequel's switch from a TV show to a movie meant that songwriters were already in place and that work had started with this different creative team. Check out his explanation below:...

Warning: Some Spoilers for Moana 2.Moana 2 found its way to big-screen box-office success after a winding journey that began with its initial conception as a television series. The movie takes place a few years after the events of Moana, and sees its titular protagonist older, more mature, and on a quest to find and unite people from across the ocean. Auli’I Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return to their respective roles as Moana and the demigod Maui in the sequel and are joined by a cast full of new and returning players.

Another key returning contributor from Moana is composer Mark Mancina, who once again created a score rich in texture and emotional depth. Mancina is a composer with a resume full of classic films like Twister, Speed, and Tarzan, who also co-wrote the songs of Mufasa: The Lion King with Lin-Manuel Miranda. For Moana 2, Mancina aimed to one-up his...

The following contains spoilers for Moana 2, now playing in theatersMoana 2 and the film that proceeded it boast some impressive songs, the strongest of which rank among the best musical contributions to the Disney canon in the 21st century. Both films feature authentic South Pacific culture mixed with modern musical standards. While the songs were penned by musical writers like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi both played important roles in the scores for both movies. The result is a medley of catchy and inspiring songs that feel wholly unique while fitting the themes and archetypes of the best musicals.

Moana has one of Disney's best modern soundtracks, with songs like "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome" become massive hits when the first film was released. While the songs in Moana 2 can't quite match the heights of the first one, there are...

There are not normally a lot of barricades outside our humble event honoring some of our favorite filmmakers, stars, and artisans on the trail this awards season, but the winter edition of IndieWire Honors, our first to focus solely on film, was our starriest event yet.

At a cocktail hour, guests sipped on Gia Coppola Wine, Francis Ford Coppola Winery’s Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc and Prosecco, and Rabbit Hole Whiskey. In attendance were the casts and filmmakers of “The Last Showgirl” and “Nickel Boys,” who met backstage, including director Coppola, screenwriter Kate Gertsen, actors Brenda Song, Ethan Herisse, plus recent Gotham Award winner Brandon Wilson — there to support Performance Award recipient Pamela Anderson and Auteur Award recipient RaMell Ross. Then the awards kicked off. IndieWire publisher James Israel and editor-in-chief Dana Harris-Bridson provided an overview of the night honoring everyone from “Dune” director Denis Villeneuve to stars Jennifer Lopez...

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (Aanphi) audiences are finding much to rejoice about in Disney’s latest animated feature “Moana 2.”

Little details such as Moana’s conch shell, the pottery ceramics she finds, the tattoos and even the wayfarer’s canoe are touchpoints that the creatives went to great lengths to include.

But it took a village of artisans to make that happen. Directors Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr. lead the way and were joined by screenwriter and director Dana Ledoux Miller, who is currently working on the live-action version of “Moana.”

In addition to the above-the-line talent, behind-the-scenes, there were experts in language, navigation, dance and even botany, as well as story artists and the Oceanic Cultural Trust, which also worked on the first film to ensure the rich heritage of Polynesian wayfinding could be honored.

Derrick says when he made the first film, he...

When Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took on the role of songwriters for “Moana 2,” they didn’t just level up in terms of the visibility of their careers. They made history. The 26 and 23-year old songwriters, best known for their work on the Grammy-winning “Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” album, are the youngest songwriters to work on a Disney animated film, succeeding Lin-Manuel Miranda in their work on the sequel to the 2016 fantasy adventure hit. They’re also the first female songwriting duo, following in the footsteps of Disney legends like Howard Ashman and Alan Menken to put their own stamp on the adventures of the believed Polynesian princess.

Barlow and Bear received the Breakthrough Award at the 2024 IndieWire Honors event, which was held at Citizen News in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 5. Accepting the award, Barlow and Bear gave a speech saluting music’s power to tell stories that matter...

In under a decade, Moana is already getting a live-action remake much sooner than any other Disney princess, and her sequel film, Moana 2, has hit theaters with early success. Moana 2 also joins a once-rare club as one of the Disney animated sequels to go to theaters.

While this has become more commonplace with movies like Frozen 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet, in the past, many Disney animated movie sequels would go straight to video or DVD. The quality of these films also was not always as impressive as their original movies. This was the case for the sequel to Atlantis: The Lost Empire; however, that movie -- like Moana 2 -- was not initially meant to be a film. It was meant to be a television series. However, it was made into a film almost as if this were a form of punishment, while Moana 2 builds off Moana's initial success.

Walt Disney Animation is riding a huge wave of success following the opening of Moana 2, which broke all kinds of box office records during its debut over the Thanksgiving holiday week. Critical reception was a little less stellar, with the sequel's new songs drawing complaints in particular. In a new interview, Moana 2's songwriters addressed that backlash head-on by pointing out something fairly obvious.

Moana 2 was intended to be a streaming series but pivoted to a theatrical rollout when Disney realized the brand was way too lucrative for Disney+ alone. With that pivot, critics seemed to be a bit hard on the film, with the movie receiving a harsher critical response compared to its 2016 predecessor. Some reviews pointed to how the film felt like a Disney straight-to-video release from back in the day (think the Aladdin sequel The Return of Jafar), and that criticism trickled down to the movie's music,...

Moana 2 songwriters Abigail Barlow, 25, and Emily Bear, 22, have addressed the criticism surrounding the sequel’s soundtrack following its theatrical premiere. The highly-anticipated follow-up to Disney's 2016 hit, Moana, continues the journey of Moana Waialiki (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), who ventures beyond her home once again to break the curse that befalls the island of Motufetu. Moana 2's returning cast members include Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Maui, with a mix of new friends and foes.

In an interview with Variety, the award-winning duo Barlow and Bear spoke openly about audience reactions to the Moana 2 soundtrack, which has drawn mixed reviews. Notably, songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who crafted many of the iconic songs for the original, did not return for the second installment of Moana's seafaring adventure. Reflecting on the challenges of following Miranda’s footsteps, Bear addressed the inevitable comparisons, while Barlow seemed unscathed by the apprehension. Here's...

The seemingly inevitable story of Moana 3 needs to bring back a key player from the original film who was absent from Moana 2. Overall, Moana 2's reception has been interesting. Despite the critical reviews for the film not being as positive as the first movie, Moana 2's box office numbers are promising to shatter records. This proves that regardless of the issues present in the story by the time of Moana 2's ending, the sequel is still resonating with general audiences across the world.

Reception to the film aside, it is clear that Moana 2 was crafted with the potential story of Moana 3 in mind. After Moana fulfills her destiny and connects the people of the vast ocean once more, Moana 2's credits begin to roll. However, the teases at Moana and Maui's future, combined with Moana 2's post-credit scene, hint that another sequel is on the horizon.

Make no mistake about it, “Moana 2” is a hit.

The Disney sequel set a Thanksgiving box office record with $225 million over the five-day holiday frame. While audiences have flocked to movie theaters, fans haven’t been so kind to the film’s music and its songwriters. The main criticism is that the songs don’t have that Disney hook, with some even saying it needed better songs. Or that the songs just don’t live up to those composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the 2016 original.

Songwriter Abigail Barlow responds with a smile, “Give it a month, all the kids will be singing it, and you’ll be tired of it.”

Barlow is one half of Barlow and Bear (Emily Bear), the songwriting team behind the new songs featured in Disney’s “Moana 2.”

Bear chimes in, “I would say that everyone has an opinion.” She adds, “Writing a sequel is really difficult because obviously,...

In remarks that we can't help but read as being halfway between a brag and an outright threat, the writers of the songs for the Moana 2 soundtrack are now promising to infect the minds of America's children. "Give it a month, all the kids will be singing it," songwriter...

On December 5, the IndieWire Honors Winter 2024 ceremony will celebrate the creators and stars responsible for crafting some of the year’s best films. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the filmmakers, artisans, and performers behind films well worth toasting. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles event.

In “Moana 2,” Disney’s latest smash-hit animated musical, the title character (Auli’i Cravalho) receives advice from a mischievous bat spirit Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) about taking new, uncertain directions during her quest to find the island of Motunui rather than staying on the path she already knows, via the rollicking diva number “Get Lost.” It’s a moral that felt very apt for the experience songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear had while writing it, as they were forced to do something they’ve always avoided: work together over Zoom.

Journey To The Far Seas — In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2,” Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. The all-new feature film opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Moana films have solidified their place as timeless entries in Walt Disney’s collection of animated masterpieces, standing tall among the studio’s most celebrated works. Auliʻi Cravalho’s remarkable talent and dedication have been central to making Moana a character adored across the globe. From its debut, Moana has struck a powerful chord with audiences,...