Disney’s live-action version of Moana has claimed the top spot at the North American box office, though it fell short of the anticipated earnings. During its debut weekend, the film grossed $43 million in the U.S. and Canada. International markets contributed an additional $52 million, bringing the total global earnings to $95 million. This is in contrast to its hefty production budget, reported to be $250 million.
The film, directed by Thomas Kail, sees Dwayne Johnson reprise his role as Maui, with newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia playing Moana. While Lagaʻaia’s performance has been well-received, the movie has faced criticism for sticking closely to the plot of the 2016 animated original. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics have given the movie a 34% score, although audience reactions have been more favorable. Surveys suggest that despite mixed reviews, many viewers, particularly families, are inclined to recommend the film.
In recent years, Disney has experienced significant success with several live-action remakes; however, some have not fared as well commercially. The opening performance of Moana has sparked comparisons to Snow White, another film that had a similarly modest start at the box office.
Industry experts suggest that the film’s initial performance may have been affected by stiff competition from other family-oriented releases, with several PG-rated films vying for audience attention at the same time. Despite the lackluster start, analysts point out that family films often enjoy sustained box office results in the weeks following their release, particularly if they benefit from positive word-of-mouth promotion.