Disney's live-action Moana struggles with a million global debut.

      Disney's live-action Moana has struggled at the box office, with the Dwayne Johnson-led remake of the 2016 animated hit earning only $95 million globally in its opening weekend. The film features Johnson reprising his role as demigod Maui, alongside Catherine Laga’aia portraying Moana. It generated $43 million in North America, narrowly surpassing last year’s poorly received Snow White, which brought in $42.2 million, and an additional $52 million from international markets. This was below Disney's already conservative expectations, which estimated approximately $65 million domestically and $140 million overall.

      Disney reportedly invested $250 million in Moana’s production budget, not including substantial marketing costs. With such a disappointing start, industry experts suggest the studio may face losses exceeding $100 million on the film. This marks another financial setback for Disney, following a reported $170 million loss related to Snow White, though that was somewhat balanced by the success of Lilo & Stitch, which grossed over a billion dollars.

      It remains to be seen how Moana’s box office performance will influence Disney's future plans for animated remakes or a third animated film hinted at by Johnson prior to Moana's release. Nonetheless, with the original Moana generating over a billion dollars and 2024's Moana 2 initially conceived as a Disney+ series, there appears to be continued interest in the franchise, at least in its animated form.

      Were you surprised by Moana’s disappointing box office results? What do you think went wrong? Share your thoughts with us on our social media channels @FlickeringMyth…

      Originally published on July 12, 2026. Updated on July 13, 2026. About Gary Collinson: Gary Collinson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flickering Myth. He is a writer and producer focused on film, television, and digital content, with works including the gothic horror feature The Baby in the Basket, suspense thriller Death Among the Pines, and the horror franchise reboot Robert Returns. He is also the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.