Disney’s live-action Moana movie opening weekend resulted in an estimated global total of $95 million, according to box office data. This debut puts the latest remake slightly ahead of the live-action Snow White, which earned $87.3 million during its opening weekend in 2025. The Moana remake earned an estimated $43 million domestically and $52 million internationally.
While the film secured the top spot for the mid-July weekend, the figures fall short of high-end projections. Industry estimates had suggested a potential domestic opening of $60 million to $65 million and international returns as high as $75 million. With a reported production budget of $250 million, as cited by Variety, the soft start creates a significant financial gap for the studio.
The film stars Catherine Laga'aia in the title role and features Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson returning as the character Maui. The project is a live-action adaptation of the original animated musical, though critical reception has been mixed. A review from IGN gave the film a 6/10, stating the movie is a “frame-by-frame retelling” that “doesn't do enough to justify being made.”
Disney Live-Action Strategy and Future Remakes
Following the underwhelming performance of Snow White, reports indicated that the live-action Tangled movie faced an indefinite delay. However, that project has since regained momentum with new cast additions following the success of the live-action Lilo and Stitch movie.
Variety reports that Tangled is now expected to premiere in 2028. This development comes as Disney continues to develop several other remakes and spin-offs, including live-action versions of Bambi and Hercules, a sequel to Lilo and Stitch, and a project centered on the Beauty and the Beast antagonist, Gaston.
Global Box Office Trends and Competition
The mid-July window saw divergent results for major studio releases. A Michael Jackson biopic, produced by Universal Pictures and Lionsgate, surpassed $1 billion globally, becoming the first biopic in history to reach that milestone. Similarly, Toy Story 5 is approaching the billion-dollar mark, sitting at $879 million after its fourth weekend in theaters.
Warner Bros. is facing challenges with its DCU entries. Supergirl has reached a total haul of $115.4 million, remaining well below the $200 million finish some analysts had projected. These figures suggest ongoing losses for the studio as it attempts to establish its new cinematic universe.
Disney has not announced any changes to the release schedule for its upcoming live-action slate following the Moana debut. Readers can follow official studio channels for updates on the 2028 release of Tangled.
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