Di Walt Disney Company live-action remake of Moana don land as number one movie for North America box office, but e no make any big splash for im first weekend for cinema.
Di movie, wey cost reported $250m to produce, only earn $43m from ticket sales for US and Canada according to studio estimates on Sunday. For international, e earn $52m from 50 markets, wey add up to $95m global debut.
Disney bet big on Moana, one of im most popular franchises. Di 2016 animated film na di most-watched movie for Disney+. Im sequel, wey dem stitch together from a planned streaming series, make more than $1bn and score a Thanksgiving record wen e open with $225m for 2024.
Dis latest Moana, wey Thomas Kail direct, bring Dwayne Johnson back as demigod Maui and introduce Australian actor Catherine Lagaʻaia as di adventuring Polynesian princess. Despite praise for Lagaʻaia, di film set sail on a wave of dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of di original. Moana now dey sit at 34% for Rotten Tomatoes.
Audiences, di majority of whom na women (66%), were less negative: according to PostTrak, 63% say dem go definitely recommend di film to friends. Parent reactions even stronger, with 78% saying dem go recommend am to other parents. E also get promising A- CinemaScore.
Disney live-action remakes of beloved animated films, new and old, don get dia share of successes and disappointments. Some don make more than $1bn, including Lilo + Stitch, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Oda don flounder, most notably last year Snow White, wey make only $205m worldwide.
Families love going to movies but right now there dey three of dem, Dergarabedian talk. PG-rated films outgrossed oda for 2024 and 2025, so Moana performance fit no be case of family movie fatigue, e talk, but simply show there fit be a ceiling. Families get to make a choice and, after four weekends, Toy Story 5 still dey go strong.
There also dey signs dat dese movies fit no sink or swim based on opening weekend alone. Although Minions & Monsters open below expectations over Fourth of July holiday, e also get modest 45% drop dis weekend.
While both May and June were very strong, both generating over $1bn for North America, July, Dergarabedian talk, don face some headwinds with a string of underperformers, including Supergirl. Tings go probably pick up next week with di arrival of Christopher Nolan The Odyssey followed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day di weekend after. Dem fit power a stronger August than July for di box office, wey go be very unusual, Dergarabedian talk.
