Live-action Moana earns $4.5 million in Thursday box office previews

Disney’s live-action reimagining of Moana opened its North American theatrical run with $4.5 million in Thursday preview screenings that began at 2 p.m. The film, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson, enters the market with a reported production budget of $250 million before global marketing costs.

Box office performance and projections

The $4.5 million preview result has led to a reduction in domestic opening weekend expectations. While initial tracking in late June projected a debut as high as $85 million, industry estimates have since shifted. Projections for the opening weekend currently range from the high $30 millions to $65 million. Before the preview figures were released, some exhibitors and analysts had privately estimated a total near $40 million.

Compared to other Disney live-action remakes, Moana’s preview performance sits between Snow White ($3.5 million, $42.2 million opening) and titles like Aladdin ($7 million) and The Little Mermaid ($10.3 million, $95.5 million opening). The results were also significantly lower than the Tuesday previews for Moana 2, which earned $13.8 million ahead of its $139.7 million three-day opening in November 2024.

Franchise context and market competition

The release arrives less than two years after the November 2024 debut of Moana 2, an animated sequel that grossed over $1 billion globally and earned $225 million during its five-day Thanksgiving frame. Some analysts have identified a potential issue of “franchise overload,” noting the proximity to the animated sequel and the original 2016 film, which remains highly popular on streaming platforms.

The film faces a crowded family entertainment field. Toy Story 5 continues its run, having crossed $800 million globally, and Minions & Monsters remains in theaters. Looking ahead, the movie will face competition from Universal’s The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, scheduled for release on July 17, followed by Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.

Critical reception and production

The live-action Moana has received mixed early attention, holding an approval rating between 35% and 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. While The Hollywood Reporter chief film critic David Rooney observed that “this charming new iteration stands confidently on its own,” other reviewers have been more critical. Tasha Robinson of Polygon wrote, Virtually every line, beat, and song in the new movie is identical to the 2016 version, apart from a few minor punch-ups or extra comedy tags here and there. There’s no artistic or aesthetic reason for this movie to exist. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press similarly noted, All inventiveness has gone out to sea.

Despite the critical response, those involved with the project emphasize its cultural focus. Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the demigod Maui, stated at the Los Angeles premiere:

"To be honest with you, I never bought into this idea [of], ‘You have to wait 20 years. You have you wait 30 years. It’s too soon.’ I honestly never did — and not because I’m biased and I made the film — but because there’s themes and values in this, in animated Moana, that could translate really well if you saw a real young girl going through it."

As the box office run begins, the studio remains hopeful that positive word-of-mouth and weekend walk-up business will help improve the film's total performance. The movie features musical contributions from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the song Along The Way.