Disney’s live-action Moana fails to make a splash at box office with underwhelming opening

Latest film in franchise takes just $43m in North America and $95m globally, against a $250m budget The Walt Disney Company’s live-action remake of Moana may be the No 1 movie at the North American box office but it did not make a big splash in its first weekend in theaters. The movie, which cost a reported $250m (£187m, A$360m) to produce, earned just $43m from ticket sales in the US and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Internationally, it earned $52m from 50 markets, adding up to a $95m (£71m, A$137m) global debut. The studio bet big on Moana, one of its most popular franchises. The 2016 animated film is the most-watched movie on Disney+. Its sequel, which was stitched together from a planned streaming series, made more than $1bn and scored a Thanksgiving record when it opened with $225m in 2024. This latest Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, brings Dwayne Johnson back as the demigod Maui and introduces the Australian actor Catherine Lagaʻaia as the adventuring Polynesian princess. Despite praise for Lagaʻaia, the film set sail on a wave of dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original. Moana is now sitting at a 34% on