Disney’s live-action “Moana” made its debut at the top of the North American box office, yet it fell short of pre-release expectations, earning $43 million in the U.S. and Canada during its opening weekend. The film, directed by Thomas Kail, added $52 million from international audiences, resulting in a global debut of $95 million. This is notably less than its production budget of $250 million.
Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui in the film, while Catherine Lagaʻaia takes on the character of Moana for the first time. Although Lagaʻaia’s performance has been met with praise, the film has faced some criticism for sticking closely to the storyline of its 2016 animated predecessor. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics have given the movie a 34% score, though audiences seem more favorable, with many family viewers willing to recommend the film despite mixed reviews.
Disney has experienced significant success with live-action remakes in recent years, though not all have been commercially triumphant. The initial box office performance of “Moana” has drawn comparisons to “Snow White,” another film that had a modest start in theaters. Industry experts suggest that the film’s debut was impacted by strong competition from other family-oriented films, which also drew audiences over the same timeframe.
Analysts remain optimistic, noting that family films often perform steadily in subsequent weeks, especially if buoyed by positive word-of-mouth. Given this trend, “Moana” may still see a boost in its box office numbers in the coming weeks, despite its initial slow start.