Disney’s Live-Action Moana Flops at Box Office, Risks Over $100 Million Loss

Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana has underperformed significantly at the global box office, earning only $95 million in its opening weekend. This figure is notably low compared to the film’s production budget of approximately $250 million, excluding an additional estimated $120 million spent on marketing. In North America, the film grossed just $43 million, falling well short of industry expectations. Analysts warn that if the film’s performance does not improve in the coming weeks, Disney could face losses exceeding $100 million.

This disappointing debut contrasts sharply with the original 2016 animated Moana, which grossed over $640 million worldwide and became one of Disney+’s most-watched titles. The sequel, Moana 2, also surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office, setting high expectations for the new live-action version. Critics have been harsh, with the film holding a low 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many describing it as a near shot-for-shot remake of the original without meaningful new elements.

Despite the film’s weak box office showing, Disney emphasizes that Moana remains a highly valuable brand. Since 2016, the franchise has generated over 22 million toy sales globally, billions of soundtrack streams, theme park attractions, and substantial streaming viewership. However, the failure of this live-action Moana, following the flop of Snow White’s remake, may prompt Disney to reconsider its strategy and timing for reviving animated classics in live-action form.