Disney’s live action adaptation of Moana has sailed into theaters with a disappointing opening weekend, falling well short of the blockbuster expectations typically associated with the studio’s remake strategy.
The film debuted with an estimated $43 million domestically and $95 million worldwide, a modest start considering its reported $250 million production budget. The opening is one of the weakest for Disney’s modern live action remakes and has sparked early concerns about the film’s long term box office prospects.
The underwhelming performance comes despite the continued popularity of the Moana franchise. The original 2016 animated film became a massive success through home viewing and streaming, while Moana 2 crossed the $1 billion mark globally after its theatrical release. Many analysts believe the close proximity between the sequel and the live action remake may have reduced audience demand for another retelling of the same story.
Moana [credit: Disney]
Although critics have questioned whether the remake offered enough new material, general audiences responded more positively, awarding the film an A- CinemaScore. Disney will now be hoping that strong word of mouth and family attendance throughout the summer can help the film recover in the weeks ahead.
The disappointing debut also arrives during an increasingly competitive summer box office, with several family friendly releases already drawing audiences. While Moana still opened at No. 1 for the weekend, its financial performance has quickly become one of Hollywood’s biggest talking points.
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