Disney’s live-action remake of ‘Moana’ has failed to make a splash at the box office, earning just $43 million from ticket sales in the US and Canada in its first weekend.
Global Debut
The movie, which cost a reported $250 million to produce, earned $52 million from 50 international markets, adding up to a $95 million global debut.
The studio had high hopes for ‘Moana,’ one of its most popular franchises. The 2016 animated film is the most watched movie on Disney+, and its sequel made over $1 billion and scored a Thanksgiving record when it opened with $225 million in 2024.
Critic and Audience Reception
Despite praise for Catherine Lagaʻaia as the adventuring Polynesian princess, the film received dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original. It’s currently sitting at a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Audiences, however, were less negative, with 63% saying they would ‘definitely’ recommend the film to their friends, according to PostTrak. Parent reactions were even stronger, with 78% saying they would recommend it to other parents.
The film also got a promising A- CinemaScore, indicating a potential for positive word-of-mouth.
Market Competition
Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, attributed ‘Moana’s’ underwhelming debut to PG-rated oversaturation in the marketplace, with Universal’s ‘Minions & Monsters’ and ‘Toy Story 5’ also competing for family audiences.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
