'Moana' live-action remake opens below expectations with $45m domestic debut

Disney's live-action remake of Moana is projected to open below expectations at the North American box office, with an estimated domestic debut of $45 million.

According to reports, the film earned an estimated $18.2 million on its opening day across 3,872 cinemas, falling short of industry forecasts.

The opening places Moana only slightly ahead of Disney's live-action Snow White, which debuted with $42.7 million domestically last year before finishing its theatrical run with $82.7 million in North America and $205.6 million worldwide.

Despite the slower-than-expected start, Moana has received a stronger audience response than Snow White.

The film earned an A- CinemaScore, matching 2024's Mufasa and improving on the B+ received by Snow White.

Disney is expected to benefit from relatively limited competition for family audiences until the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day later this month.

However, the remake faces financial challenges. The report states that Moana was produced on a budget of at least $200 million, with marketing costs estimated to exceed a further $100 million.

Overseas results have also been modest, with the film taking £775,000 on its opening day in the UK, where interest was affected by FIFA World Cup quarter-final fixtures involving England.

Competition from other family releases has also impacted the film's launch. Universal and Illumination's Minions & Monsters is expected to earn $21 million in its second weekend, while Pixar's Toy Story 5 continues its strong run with an estimated $18.5 million in its fourth weekend, taking its domestic total beyond $400 million.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros. and New Line's Evil Dead Burn is projected to open with $14.5 million domestically, giving the horror sequel a solid start against its reported $20 million production budget.