'Moana' Paddling To Underwhelming $42M-$46M U.S. Opening, But Lands A- CinemaScore – Saturday Box Office Update
News Source
•Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:44:00 +0000
📰 What Happened
Disney's live-action Moana opened to an estimated $42-46 million in the US, well below early predictions of $70-80 million. The film earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences, showing a gap between what critics and audiences thought. Women gave the film an A overall, and viewers under 18 gave it an A+. However, the opening weekend numbers disappointed after tracking had suggested a much bigger debut. The film stars Dwayne Johnson as Maui and features a new song by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
🔍 The Backstory
Moana is one of Disney's most popular animated franchises. The original 2016 film was a huge hit, praised for its music, story, and Polynesian cultural representation. Disney has been making live-action versions of its animated classics, including The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Analysts say the live-action Moana may have been released too close to Moana 2, causing audience confusion or franchise fatigue. The film did much better with female audiences, with 78% of women over 25 giving it a definite recommendation.
🎯 Why It Matters
This box office result shows that even blockbuster franchises can struggle if the timing is wrong. For movie fans, it raises questions about whether Hollywood should slow down on remakes and focus on original stories.
Disney's live-action Moana opened to an estimated $42-46 million in the US, well below early predictions of $70-80 million. The film earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences, showing a gap between what critics and audiences thought. Women gave the film an A overall, and viewers under 18 gave it an A+. However, the opening weekend numbers disappointed after tracking had suggested a much bigger debut. The film stars Dwayne Johnson as Maui and features a new song by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Moana is one of Disney's most popular animated franchises. The original 2016 film was a huge hit, praised for its music, story, and Polynesian cultural representation. Disney has been making live-action versions of its animated classics, including The Lion King, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Analysts say the live-action Moana may have been released too close to Moana 2, causing audience confusion or franchise fatigue. The film did much better with female audiences, with 78% of women over 25 giving it a definite recommendation.
This box office result shows that even blockbuster franchises can struggle if the timing is wrong. For movie fans, it raises questions about whether Hollywood should slow down on remakes and focus on original stories.