The latest live-action adaptation of Disney’s beloved animated film, “Moana,” has hit theaters, but its debut at the box office has been underwhelming. Despite being the number one film in the U.S. and Canada, it only earned $43 million during its opening weekend. This is particularly surprising considering the film had a hefty production budget of $250 million.
Globally, “Moana” racked up $95 million in total, earning $52 million from international markets. The expectations were high due to the success of the original 2016 animated version, which remains the most-watched film on Disney+. The animated “Moana” was highly acclaimed and its sequel, “Moana 2,” released just 19 months ago, grossed over $1 billion.
Audience Reception and Critical Reviews
Directed by Thomas Kail, the new “Moana” features Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui and introduces Catherine Lagaʻaia as the adventurous Polynesian princess. However, the film has received mixed reviews, with critics pointing out its similarity to the animated original, describing it as a shot-for-shot remake.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a low score of 34%. In contrast, audience responses have been warmer, particularly among female viewers, 66% of whom expressed a desire to recommend the film. Parent feedback has been even more positive, with 78% saying they would suggest it to other families. The film also received an A- CinemaScore, indicating a decent level of audience satisfaction.
Competitive Landscape
The competition at the box office is fierce. Other family-friendly films, including “Minions & Monsters” and “Toy Story 5,” have also been performing well, which may have impacted “Moana’s” opening weekend earnings. Industry expert Paul Dergarabedian noted that with multiple PG-rated films available, families are faced with tough choices on what to watch.
In 2024, PG-rated films have generally outperformed others, but “Moana’s” opening suggests there might be a limit to how much families are willing to spend on multiple films. As “Toy Story 5” continues to do well, pulling in $879.1 million globally, “Moana” might have to rely on word-of-mouth and positive audience reactions to maintain momentum.
Other Box Office Highlights
In addition to “Moana,” the box office saw the release of R-rated horror film “Evil Dead Burn,” which opened in fourth place with $13.7 million. Meanwhile, the historical film “Young Washington” rounded out the top five, earning $6.4 million in its second weekend.
Despite its initial performance, it’s important to remember that box office success isn’t solely determined by opening weekend figures. Films like “Minions & Monsters” may have had a slow start but showed resilience in subsequent weeks, suggesting that audience reception can significantly impact a film’s longevity.
Conclusion
As the year progresses, the total domestic box office is nearing $5.2 billion, reflecting a 10.7% increase from last year. With upcoming releases like Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the box office landscape may shift once more, potentially leading to a stronger August.
For now, “Moana” has made its mark, but it remains to be seen how it will perform in the weeks to come against stiff competition and changing audience preferences.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office:
1. “Moana,” $43 million.
2. “Minions & Monsters,” $20.5 million.
3. “Toy Story 5,” $18.5 million.
4. “Evil Dead Burn,” $13.7 million.
5. “Young Washington,” $6.4 million.
6. “The Invite,” $5.7 million.
7. “Obsession,” $3.8 million.
8. “Supergirl,” $3.6 million.
9. “Disclosure Day,” $3.2 million.
10. “Backrooms,” $1.5 million.
