Disney’s live-action Moana opens softly: a projected $40M-$45M debut

Disney’s live-action Moana is out now, and the early numbers aren’t great. The remake of the 2016 animated hit is tracking for a $40 million to $45 million domestic opening, based on industry estimates, which makes this an early box-office letdown.

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That start looks weak against the film’s reported $250 million budget. It’s already being compared to softer Disney remake debuts like Snow White. And even though Moana 2 recently crossed $1 billion worldwide in reported box-office totals, some analysts think Disney may have gone back to the franchise too quickly. What should have felt like a big event seems to be landing more as audience fatigue.

For Dwayne Johnson, who returns as Maui after voicing the character in the 2016 hit, it extends a rough run in theaters. That stretch already includes Black Adam ($393.5 million worldwide on a reported $190 million to $260 million budget) and Jungle Cruise ($221 million on a reported $200 million budget).

The reviews haven’t helped much, either. Critics have called Moana unnecessary and thin, said Disney’s live-action Moana is missing the original’s spark, and argued that Johnson’s live-action Maui feels flatter this time around. If you track Dwayne Johnson’s box-office draw, this is one to watch, especially after The Smashing Machine, which reviewed well but didn’t turn into a major commercial success.

You can catch Disney’s live-action Moana in theaters now.