Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana has launched into a competitive box office environment, raising concerns for collectors and retailers as it struggles to meet initial projections.
Starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia, the film directed by Thomas Kail has debuted with approximately $18 million domestically since Friday, along with Thursday previews. Moana is projected to open at around $45 million from nearly 3,900 North American screens, falling short of the sought-after $60 million mark due to initial tracking that estimated it could potentially reach $75 million.
Despite receiving an A- CinemaScore from audiences, the film’s $250 million production budget indicates that it must attract substantial family attendance, particularly as the market welcomes formidable competitors, including Christopher Nolan’s R-rated The Odyssey from Universal in the coming weekend.
This opening mirrors the $42 million debut of the live-action Snow White in March 2025, which underwhelmed with a B+ CinemaScore and a more substantial $270 million budget. Following that lackluster performance, Disney paused development on its anticipated live-action adaptation of Tangled, which has since resumed production prompted by the success of Lilo & Stitch — a film that generated $146 million in its opening weekend and went on to reach $1 billion globally.
Notably, the original animated Moana, released in 2016, saw significant success, amassing $82 million over its five-day Thanksgiving opening and ultimately achieving a global total of $643 million. The franchise’s enduring popularity is evidenced by more than 1.5 billion hours streamed on Disney+ and the sale of over 22 million toys, along with 26 billion music streams globally.
Interestingly, the animated sequel Moana 2, which launched in late 2024 and originally planned for Disney+ release, earned $225 million domestically over the holiday frame and eclipsed $1 billion worldwide. However, its theatrical shift created potential conflicts with the marketing and release timing for this live-action iteration.
Disney’s previous live-action adaptations, including Alice in Wonderland (2010), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Lion King (2019), all opened above the $100 million mark, benefiting from higher critical reception than Moana, which currently holds a 34 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In a review, David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter acknowledged that this new version stands confidently on its own.
In the broader context of the toy market, this release highlights ongoing trends and consumer dynamics in collectibles, as fan fervor for the Moana franchise suggests a robust demand that could impact future merchandise strategies. Collectors should keep an eye on the varying trajectories of the franchise as retail offerings evolve in response to these theatrical performances.
In addition to Moana, Warner Bros.’ Evil Dead Burn has also opened, earning approximately $6.7 million as it maintains the No. 4 position, while Universal’s Minions & Monsters seeks family audiences at the box office.
Disney’s Toy Story 5 continues to perform well, bolstered by returning voices Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and has surpassed the $800 million mark globally.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/moana-box-office-disney-opening-evil-dead-burn-1236644503/.
