Disney's live-action Moana remake debuted on July 9, 2026, in the US and Canada, grossing an estimated $43 million domestically and $52 million internationally over its opening weekend, for a global total of about $95 million [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The film fell short of expectations that had forecast $60-75 million in combined domestic and international revenue [2, 4, 5].
With a production budget near $250 million and approximately $120 million spent on global marketing, the $95 million opening failed to recoup initial costs and industry analysts estimate Disney could lose between $100 million and $125 million on the project [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]. Domestic theaters typically retain about half of box office earnings, making Moana's revenue insufficient to cover combined expenditures [3, 6].
Moana's release followed closely — less than two years — after the 2024 animated sequel Moana 2, which earned more than $1 billion globally and set box office records [1, 3, 4]. This timing contributed to audience fatigue, reducing interest in a live-action remake that closely mirrored the original 2016 animated film [1, 8, 5, 7]. "Disney's strategy is dependent on whether audiences see the remake as an event or a duplicate. This was the latter. People wanted Moana 3, not a remake of the original," said Jeff Bock, an analyst at Exhibitor Relations [7].
The remake earned largely negative critical reviews, holding a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes, though audience reception was more positive, with a CinemaScore grade of A- and 63% of surveyed viewers saying they would definitely recommend the film [1, 8]. Women accounted for about 66% of the audience, with parents and children under 12 also comprising significant demographic groups [1, 8, 5].
Moana's performance aligns with Disney’s previous recent struggles in live-action remakes of recent hits. Last year’s Snow White remake earned $42 million domestically and about $87 million globally and was widely regarded as a failure [1, 2, 4, 6]. By contrast, other live-action remakes like 2025’s Lilo & Stitch succeeded, grossing over $1 billion worldwide [1, 3, 8, 6].
Box-office analyst David Gross noted, "Disney invented this live-action phenomenon based on their animated films, and they've had remarkable success with them. But this opening isn't close to Disney's past remakes" [5]. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, added, "Families love going to the movies but right now there are three of them. That’s a lot of competition." [1]
Questions about Disney's live-action remake strategy have emerged amid market saturation and competition [1, 5, 6]. The film's trajectory will become clearer in coming weeks as box office returns and audience reactions further develop. Analysts expect more detailed loss estimates to refine after the initial weeks of release [4, 7].
