Disney’s live-action Moana opened in US theaters on Thursday, July 10, with mixed box office results. The film is tracking for a domestic opening between $60–65 million, though some expect softer starts around $40 million. Globally, the film projects to gross around $130 million in its opening weekend.
A Costly Gamble
Moana carries a massive $250 million production budget, making the soft opening especially concerning for Disney. The original animated film, which debuted in 2016, grossed nearly $645 million worldwide. Early reviews have not been kind, with a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 45/100 on Metacritic, well below the original’s 95% rating.
The film reunites director Thomas Kail with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as demigod Maui. Catherine Laga’aia steps into the lead as the titular character in what marks a significant casting choice for the live-action adaptation.
Market Challenges
The film faces a crowded July marketplace and the ongoing skepticism audiences have toward live-action remakes of beloved animated properties. Evil Dead Burn, released the same day, is seen as a stronger player at the box office, suggesting audiences may be fragmenting their moviegoing choices this weekend.
Disney’s Moana remake demonstrates that star power and source material alone cannot guarantee success when critics and audiences part ways this decisively.
