Disney's live-action remake of Moana opened as the No. 1 movie in North America but failed to make a significant impact at the global box office, earning just $95 million worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget.
Disappointing Opening Weekend Figures
The film, directed by Thomas Kail, grossed $43 million in the US and Canada and an additional $52 million from 50 international markets, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. This brings the global debut to $95 million, a figure well below expectations for one of Disney's most popular franchises.
The 2016 animated Moana remains the most-watched movie on Disney+, and its 2024 sequel—originally conceived as a streaming series—earned over $1 billion, setting a Thanksgiving record with a $225 million opening. The new live-action version stars Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui and introduces Australian actor Catherine Lagaʻaia as the Polynesian princess Moana.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
Despite praise for Lagaʻaia's performance, the film has been widely criticized by reviewers as a shot-for-shot remake of the original. It currently holds a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were more favorable: according to PostTrak, 63% said they would definitely recommend the film, and 78% of parents said they would recommend it to other parents. The film also earned an A- CinemaScore.
Comparison to Other Disney Live-Action Remakes
Disney's live-action remakes have seen both massive successes and notable failures. Hits like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Lilo + Stitch each grossed over $1 billion. However, last year's Snow White struggled with a $205 million worldwide total, opening at $42.2 million domestically and $87 million globally—similar to Moana's performance.
Market Competition and Family Movie Landscape
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, noted that Moana faced stiff competition from other PG-rated films. Universal's Minions & Monsters took second place with $20.5 million, while Toy Story 5 was third with $18.5 million, bringing its global total to $879.1 million. "Families love going to the movies but right now there are three of them," Dergarabedian said. "That's a lot of competition."
He added that PG-rated films have outperformed others in 2024 and 2025, so Moana's performance may not signal "family movie fatigue" but rather a ceiling on demand. Families must choose, and Toy Story 5 remains strong after four weekends.
Box Office Trends and Outlook
The total domestic box office for 2025 stands at just under $5.2 billion, up 10.7% from the same point last year. While May and June each generated over $1 billion in North America, July has seen a string of underperformers, including Supergirl. Dergarabedian expects a boost from upcoming releases like Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. "They could power a stronger August than July at the box office, which would be very unusual," he said.
