Disney's live-action remake of "Moana" debuted to a disappointing $95 million worldwide, with $43 million domestically and $52 million internationally. This performance is considered a "catastrophic start" given the film's hefty $250 million production budget, excluding an estimated $145 million in global marketing and advertising. Industry analysts project the movie could incur theatrical losses ranging from $100 million to $125 million, falling well below Disney's own projections of $75 million overseas and $130 million to $140 million globally.
Analysts attribute the poor box office performance to several factors, primarily the timing of its release. The original animated "Moana" was released in 2016, and its sequel, "Moana 2," was a blockbuster hit in late 2024, grossing over $1 billion. This meant the live-action remake arrived just 19-20 months after the animated sequel, widely considered too soon for audience demand to rebuild. David A. Gross of FranchiseRe noted, "This story wasn’t ready to come back, and audiences are not rushing to see it."
Furthermore, the film faced strong competition in the family movie market. It debuted alongside Universal's "Minions & Monsters" and "Toy Story 5," which, in its fourth weekend, was still performing strongly with a global total nearing $900 million. Critics also largely panned the new "Moana" for being a shot-for-shot remake of the original, although audience reception was more positive, with an A- CinemaScore and 63% saying they would recommend it. Its opening is comparable to the $42 million debut of the controversial "Snow White" remake in 2025, marking another setback for Disney's live-action strategy.
Despite the significant underperformance, it’s unlikely to halt Disney’s remake trend entirely, especially since other recent live-action adaptations like "Lilo & Stitch" grossed over $1 billion. However, the "Moana" flop suggests Disney might need to reevaluate its approach, possibly by allowing more time between animated originals and their live-action counterparts, with a gap of 20 to 25 years appearing to be a "sweet spot" for successful nostalgia-driven remakes.
