Box Office Struggles: 'Moana' Flops While 'Michael' Soars Past $1B

WHO:

Deadline - Disney is the studio behind the live-action remake of Moana.

Reddit Movies - Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui in the live-action Moana.

WHAT:

Deadline - The live-action Moana's debut performance is notably below other live-action remakes, including Dumbo ($45.9 million) and Snow White ($42.2 million).

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana's reviews are at a very poor 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, below Snow White's 39% and slightly above Pinocchio's 27%.

Reddit Movies - According to Disney, 62% of the audience for Moana was female, and 55% was in the 18-34 demographic.

Reddit Movies - The film received a "A–" on CinemaScore, which is below the original's "A".

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana is projected to finish with around $110 million domestically, which is not considered a good performance.

Variety - The live-action Moana debuted in the U.K. and Ireland box office with an opening weekend of £2.8 million ($3.8 million).

Reddit Movies - The combined earnings of the Top 10 films at the box office for the weekend totaled $119.9 million, down 39.9% from the same weekend last year.

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana's domestic total is now projected to finish with around $110 million, which is not considered a good performance.

Deadline - The live-action Moana debuted with a total of $52.4 million overseas.

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana's domestic total is projected to finish with around $110 million.

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana's debut performance is notably below the 2016 original's $56.6 million and the sequel's $139.7 million.

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana's reviews are at a very poor 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, below Snow White's 39% and slightly above Pinocchio's 27%.

Reddit Movies - Disney's Moana remake is reported to be one of the worst debuts for a live-action remake in the company's history.

Deadline - The live-action Moana opened with over $95 million worldwide.

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana earned $43.1 million domestically and $95.5 million worldwide against a budget of $250 million.

Reddit Movies - The film is reported to be one of the worst debuts for a live-action remake by Disney.

Reddit Movies - A24's film The Invite had a good debut, while Michael became the first biopic to surpass $1 billion.

WHERE:

Reddit Movies - The live-action Moana debuted in 3,875 theaters in the United States.

Reddit Movies - The film had weak debuts in various international markets, including Australia ($5.3 million), France ($5.2 million), South Korea ($3.8 million), the UK ($3.7 million), Germany ($3.4 million), Mexico ($3.4 million), Spain ($3.1 million), and Brazil ($2.1 million).

WHEN:

Deadline - The live-action Moana was released close to Thanksgiving 2024's Moana 2.

Reddit Movies - The original animated Moana film will hit its 10-year milestone in four months.

WHY:

Reddit Movies - The timing of the live-action Moana's release was criticized as being too close to the original film, which limited audience nostalgia.

Reddit Movies - The film's poor reviews (33% on Rotten Tomatoes) contributed to its weak performance.

HOW:

Reddit Movies - The film's marketing failed to generate positive buzz among families, leading to a lack of interest.

Reddit Movies - Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of Maui was criticized, with social media mocking his appearance in the film.

Reddit Movies - The film's marketing was criticized for failing to generate positive buzz, with trailers perceived as inferior to the original animated film.

Reddit Movies - The film's marketing failed to generate positive buzz, with trailers seen as inferior to the original.

Reddit Movies - Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of Maui was criticized, with social media mocking his appearance in the film.

Reddit Movies - The film's marketing and trailers failed to generate positive buzz among families, leading to a lack of interest.

Reddit Movies - The film's budget of $250 million and its debut performance are compared to previous Disney failures, indicating a trend of diminishing returns on live-action remakes.

(UPDATED July 14, 2026 16:21 UTC)

The live-action Moana has debuted to disappointing numbers, earning around $110 million domestically, which falls short compared to other recent remakes like Dumbo and Snow White. With a low 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A–" on CinemaScore, the film has struggled to resonate with audiences, particularly among families, despite 62% of viewers being female and 55% in the 18-34 age range. Additionally, Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of Maui has faced criticism, with social media users mocking his appearance, further contributing to the film's lackluster reception.

(UPDATED July 14, 2026 14:34 UTC)

The live-action Moana has debuted in the U.K. and Ireland box office with an opening weekend of £2.8 million, which is about $3.8 million. However, the combined earnings of the Top 10 films for the weekend reached $119.9 million, reflecting a significant drop of 39.9% compared to the same weekend last year. Critics have pointed out that the film's marketing struggled to create excitement, with trailers seen as lacking compared to the original animated version, leading to a projected domestic total of around $110 million, which is not considered a strong performance.

(UPDATED July 14, 2026 03:58 UTC)

The live-action Moana debuted with a total of $52.4 million overseas and is projected to finish with around $110 million domestically, which is notably below the original's $56.6 million and the sequel's $139.7 million. Reviews for the film are quite poor, sitting at just 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the worst debuts for a live-action remake in Disney's history. The film's marketing struggled to create positive buzz, with trailers criticized as inferior to the original, and Dwayne Johnson's portrayal of Maui faced mockery on social media.

(UPDATED July 14, 2026 01:26 UTC)

Disney's live-action remake of Moana opened with over $95 million worldwide, but it struggled to make a significant impact, earning just $43.1 million domestically against a hefty budget of $250 million. Critics have labeled it one of the worst debuts for a Disney live-action remake, with a disappointing 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the timing of its release was seen as problematic, coming too close to the original film's anniversary. Meanwhile, A24's The Invite had a strong debut, and Michael became the first biopic to surpass $1 billion at the box office.