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Live-Action ‘Moana’ Remake Could Cost Disney Over $100M
It seems that even the demigod Maui and the wayfinding magic of Moana can’t quite steer Disney’s latest live-action remake out of stormy box office waters.
According to recent reports from Deadline, Disney’s newly released live-action adaptation of Moana is facing some incredibly tough financial projections, with losses estimated to land somewhere between $100 million and $125 million.
Related – Live Action Moana Earns Verified Hot Status From Fans on Rotten Tomatoes Amid Slow Box Office Debut
The news is particularly surprising given the absolute dominance of the animated Moana 2, which sailed past the $1 billion mark at the global box office. However, the live-action remake is currently on track to pull in a lifetime total of maybe $250 million—a far cry from its animated predecessor.
The movie’s opening weekend brought in just $43 million in the U.S. and Canada, with a global debut of $95 million.
To put that into perspective, those numbers are barely ahead of Disney’s live-action Snow White, which brought in $42.2 million domestically and $87 million worldwide during its opening weekend, eventually costing the studio an estimated $170 million loss. But while Snow White faced months of heavy pre-release controversy, the live-action Moana has sailed through production with virtually no drama—making the low turnout even more of a head-scratcher.
So, what went wrong? Many industry insiders are pointing to a highly overcrowded summer release window.
- The Budget: The film carried a massive estimated production budget of $250 million before marketing expenses.
- The Competition: The remake found itself directly competing with massive summer heavyweights, including Disney’s own Toy Story 5 (which has already brought in $879 million) and Universal’s highly popular Minions & Monsters.
- Too Much Moana? The film was originally slated for a summer 2025 release but was pushed back to 2026 once the animated Moana 2 was greenlit for late 2024.
Speaking to Deadline, one veteran film finance source expressed complete bewilderment at the scheduling:
“Disney knew when they re-dated Moana that they had Moana 2 and Toy Story 5 in the mix; why they even considered a release date in 2026 blows my mind.”
While the box office numbers are lower than expected, the reaction from those who are going to see the film is incredibly divided.
The movie is currently sitting at a “Rotten” 33% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who feel the live-action translation doesn’t capture the vibrant spirit of the original. However, everyday audiences are singing a completely different tune. The film has earned a “Verified Hot” 90% Popcornmeter score from general theatergoers, proving that those who buy a ticket are genuinely enjoying the journey.
Have you had a chance to see the live-action Moana in theaters yet?
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