Disney's live-action Moana debuted with $4.5 million from Thursday previews on 3,900 North American screens, aiming for an opening weekend of $60 million to $65 million. The film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia, marks the franchise's return to theaters following the success of the animated sequel, Moana 2, which grossed over $1 billion globally.
Box Office Performance and Expectations for Moana
The live-action adaptation of Moana is expected to attract family audiences in the coming weeks. With a substantial production budget of $250 million, the film needs strong ticket sales to recoup its costs. The original Moana film opened to $82 million during Thanksgiving in 2016, ultimately earning $643 million worldwide.
Moana 2, released in 2024, achieved even greater success, raking in $225 million domestically over its five-day Thanksgiving frame and surpassing $1 billion in global earnings.
Critical Reception of Live-Action Moana
While some critics have praised the new iteration, it currently holds a disappointing 36 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. David Rooney, chief film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, remarked that the film “stands confidently on its own.” However, reactions to the reimagining have been mixed, with some fans expressing skepticism.
During the premiere in Los Angeles, Johnson expressed his belief that the themes of Moana are timeless, stating, “I never bought into this idea [of], ‘You have to wait 20 years. It’s too soon.’” He emphasized the importance of the story’s values and how they resonate with audiences.
Comparative Performance with Other Disney Live-Action Films
The live-action remake of Moana follows Disney's trend of adapting its animated classics into live-action films. Previous adaptations, such as Alice in Wonderland (2010), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Lion King (2019), all opened to over $100 million in their opening weekends.
In contrast, the recent release of Snow White underperformed, opening to only $42 million in March. Meanwhile, last year's Lilo & Stitch remake opened to $146 million, demonstrating the varying success of Disney's live-action adaptations.
- Moana: $4.5 million in previews
- Moana 2: $225 million domestic opening
- Original Moana: $82 million five-day opening
- Lilo & Stitch: $146 million opening
- Snow White: $42 million opening
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Hollywood Reporter. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
