Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – The live-action remake of Disney’s beloved animated hit Moana got off to a rough start, earning just $43 million in its domestic opening weekend in North America, well below studio expectations.
According to Disney’s early estimates, the film added another $52 million overseas, bringing its worldwide opening to $95 million. With a production budget of around $250 million (plus an estimated $100 million in marketing costs), this ranks among the weakest debuts for any Disney live-action remake to date.
“Moana failed to make a splash at the box office, grossing $43 million from 3,827 theaters in North America,” wrote Rebecca Rubin in a Variety report. She added that the figure was “disastrous” considering the scale of the film’s production.
Critics vs. Audiences
Professional critics were lukewarm, giving the Thomas Kail-directed film a disappointing 34–35% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, however, were far more enthusiastic, awarding it a strong 90% audience score and an A- CinemaScore rating.
Disney characterized the opening as “a good start…” ahead of a full month of summer vacation play with families.” The studio also highlighted the ongoing strength of the Moana franchise through its music and merchandise.
Industry Analysis
Box office analyst David A. Gross of FranchiseRe noted that while Disney pioneered the live-action remake model with considerable past success, this opening falls short of previous efforts. He pointed to the short gap since Moana 2, which crossed $1 billion just 20 months earlier as a key issue.
“This story wasn’t ready to come back and audiences are not rushing to see it,” Gross said.
New York Times writer Brooks Barnes described the situation as a “franchise-management misstep,” arguing Disney released the remake too soon while the original and its sequel were still fresh in viewers’ minds.
Read Also:
What to Know Before Watching Moana Live Action 2026 No Spoilers
Moana live-action now shares the unwanted distinction of one of Disney’s lowest openings alongside the recent Snow White ($42 million debut). If the current trend continues, the film could lose Disney between $100–125 million according to industry estimates.
Starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, the movie has drawn criticism for feeling too similar to the 2016 animated version without offering enough fresh material.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Moana can recover and become a global success or join the list of costly Disney disappointments.
