The Walt Disney Company’s live-action remake of Moana opened on July 5, 2024, to disappointing ticket sales, earning just $43 million in North America and a global total of $95 million against a hefty production budget of $250 million. Despite being the number one movie at the North American box office, the film's performance has raised eyebrows among industry analysts.
Box Office Performance of Moana
In its debut weekend, Moana managed to bring in $43 million from the US and Canada, while adding $52 million from international markets. This brings the global opening total to $95 million, a stark contrast to its production budget of $250 million. The film is now on par with the underperforming Snow White, which earned $42.2 million in its opening weekend.
Industry experts, such as Paul Dergarabedian from Rentrak, suggest that the film's performance might be influenced by the current oversaturation of PG-rated films in theaters. Competing titles like Minions & Monsters and Toy Story 5 are also drawing family audiences, with Toy Story 5 currently boasting a global total of $879.1 million.
Critical Reception and Audience Feedback
While the film has garnered a mixed response from critics, sitting at just 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, audience reactions have been more favorable. According to PostTrak, 63% of viewers indicated they would “definitely” recommend the film to friends, while 78% of parents expressed a willingness to recommend it to other parents. It also received an A- CinemaScore, indicating a better reception from general audiences compared to critics.
