Moana Faces Box Office Test, Aiming for $65 Million Debut Less Than Two Years After Franchise’s Last Hit
Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia star in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana, set to debut this weekend. The film aims for a box office opening between $60 million and $65 million across approximately 3,900 theaters in North America. This release comes less than two years after the franchise’s last entry, which may pose a challenge in attracting audiences.
Box Office Projections and Challenges
Director Thomas Kail’s film has seen its initial projections dialed back from earlier estimates, which suggested a potential opening of $75 million or more. The film’s hefty production budget of $250 million necessitates a strong performance to ensure it remains a viable family-friendly option throughout the summer.
The live-action Moana reimagines the 2016 animated musical directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, which featured Johnson as the voice of demigod Maui and Auli’i Cravalho as Moana. The storyline revolves around Moana teaming up with Maui to lift a curse threatening her island.
Critical Reception
The new adaptation has not received favorable reviews from critics. According to chief film critic David Rooney, the film “stands confidently on its own,” yet it currently holds a 37 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This mixed reception may impact its box office performance.
Franchise Dynamics and Audience Expectations
Disney is concerned about franchise fatigue among audiences, especially with Moana 2, the animated sequel featuring Johnson and Cravalho, set to release in November 2024. Initially intended as a Disney+ series, the sequel became a box office success, grossing $225 million domestically during its five-day Thanksgiving opening and surpassing $1 billion globally. The original Moana also performed well, opening to $82 million domestically in 2016 and accumulating a total of $643 million worldwide.
Competitive Landscape
Other family-friendly films competing for audience attention include Disney’s Toy Story 5, which has already grossed over $800 million globally, and Universal’s Minions & Monsters, which opened to the lowest domestic earnings in the Despicable Me franchise.
The summer box office has shown fluctuations, with audiences gravitating toward properties that have been absent from theaters for a longer time. For instance, DC Studios’ Supergirl was released a year after Superman and became one of the season’s biggest misfires.
Upcoming Releases
In addition to Moana, Warner Bros. is releasing Evil Dead Burn, the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise. Upcoming films include Universal’s The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan and featuring a star-studded cast, set for release on July 17, and Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will hit theaters on July 31.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-07-10 05:42:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk