Disney's latest live-action remake, Moana, sailed into theaters this weekend but quickly hit rough waters. The film, starring Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia, earned just $17 million on its opening day—including $4.5 million from Thursday previews—and is now projected to finish its opening weekend in the low $40 million range. That's a far cry from the billion-dollar hauls of earlier Disney remakes like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
The underwhelming debut continues a troubling trend for Disney's live-action reimaginings. Earlier this year, Snow White also stumbled out of the gate, and now Moana is tracking similarly. Produced on a reported budget of $250 million, the film faces an uphill battle to profitability—especially given that the original animated Moana was released just a decade ago, and its sequel hit theaters less than two years back.
Critical and Audience Reactions Diverge
While opening-day audiences gave the film a solid A- CinemaScore, critics have been far less kind. The movie currently holds a dismal 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading: "The sea calls to no one in this underwhelming new version of Moana, an endeavor that solidifies its animated predecessor as the superior adventure." Directed by Thomas Kail, who was relatively untested at this scale, the remake has struggled to justify its existence to both critics and casual moviegoers.
This mixed reception is especially tough for Dwayne Johnson, who was counting on Moana to reverse a string of high-profile box-office disappointments. Johnson's recent track record includes the ill-fated DC entry Black Adam, the Oscar-hopeful The Smashing Machine, and the mega-budget streaming-adjacent titles Jungle Cruise and Red One. The actor will next appear in Jumanji: Open World later this year.
Franchise Fatigue Hits Hollywood Hard
The Moana remake's struggles are part of a larger pattern of franchise fatigue that has been shaking Hollywood. Just last month, The Mandalorian and Grogu became the lowest-grossing Star Wars movie of the Disney era, while the DC Universe's Supergirl flopped hard in its theatrical run. Audiences are increasingly reluctant to leave their homes for stories they feel they've already seen—especially when those stories are available on streaming platforms.
For Disney, the golden age of live-action remakes—when Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin each crossed $1 billion worldwide—now feels like a distant memory. The studio is learning that nostalgia alone isn't enough to fill seats, especially when the original is still fresh in viewers' minds.
In related news, Disney's Moana magic is coming home in a different way: the company recently partnered with Govee on new lighting effects inspired by the film. Meanwhile, Percy Jackson and the Olympians dominates Disney+ charts ahead of its third season in 2026, proving that not all Disney properties are suffering from franchise fatigue.
As for Johnson, he'll be hoping that Jumanji: Open World can steer his box-office fortunes back on course. But for now, the Moana remake is a cautionary tale about the limits of recycling beloved IP.
