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The Walt Disney Company\u2019s live action\u00a0\u201cMoana\u201d\u00a0may be the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office, but it did not make a big splash in its first weekend in theaters.<\/p>\n
The movie, which cost a reported $250 million to produce, earned just $43 million from ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday.<\/p>\n
Internationally, it earned $52 million from 50 markets, adding up to a $95 million global debut.<\/p>\n
The studio bet big on \u201cMoana,\u201d one of its most popular franchises. The 2016 animated film is the most watched movie on Disney+. Its sequel, which was stitched together from a planned streaming series, made over $1 billion and scored a Thanksgiving record when it opened with $225 million in 2024.\u00a0\u201cMoana 2\u201d\u00a0was also released just 19 months ago.<\/p>\n
This latest \u201cMoana,\u201d directed by Thomas Kail, brings Dwayne Johnson back as the demigod Maui and introduces\u00a0Catherine Laga?aia\u00a0as the adventuring Polynesian princess. Despite praise for Laga?aia, the film set sail on a wave of dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s currently sitting at a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, the majority of whom were women (66%), were less negative: According to PostTrak, 63% said they would \u201cdefinitely\u201d recommend the film to their friends. Parent reactions were even stronger, with 78% saying they would recommend it to other parents. It also got a promising A- CinemaScore.<\/p>\n
Disney\u2019s live action remakes of beloved animated films, new and old, have had their share of successes and disappointments. Some have made over $1 billion, including \u201cLilo & Stitch,\u201d \u201cThe Lion King\u201d and \u201cBeauty and the Beast.\u201d Others have floundered, most notably last year\u2019s \u201cSnow White,\u201d which made only $205 million worldwide. \u201cMoana\u201d opened more on par with \u201cSnow White\u201d ($42.2 million).<\/p>\n
Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, said \u201cMoana\u2019s\u201d debut could also be a product of PG-rated oversaturation in the marketplace: Universal\u2019s\u00a0\u201cMinions & Monsters\u201d\u00a0was in second place with $20.5 million and \u201cToy Story 5\u201d was close behind in third place with $18.5 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies love going to the movies, but right now there are three of them,\u201d Dergarabedian said. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
PG-rated films outgrossed others in 2024 and 2025, so \u201cMoana\u2019s\u201d performance may not be a case of \u201cfamily movie fatigue,\u201d he said, but simply shows there can be a ceiling. Families have to make a choice, and after four weekends, \u201cToy Story 5\u201d is still going strong with a running global total of $879.1 million.<\/p>\n
There also are signs that these movies might not sink or swim based on the opening weekend alone. Although \u201cMinions & Monsters\u201d opened below expectations over the Fourth of July holiday, it also had a modest 45% drop this weekend. Its running domestic total is currently sitting at $108.3 million.<\/p>\n
The weekend\u2019s other big new opener was definitely not PG: The R-rated horror\u00a0\u201cEvil Dead Burn,\u201d\u00a0a Warner Bros. release, opened in fourth place with $13.7 million. It\u2019s a significant dip from the previous two films in the series, which both opened in the $25 million range.<\/p>\n
Angel Studios\u2019 George Washington movie \u201cYoung Washington\u201d rounded out the top five films in its second weekend in theaters, with $6.4 million. Olivia Wilde\u2019s chamber dramedy \u201cThe Invite\u201d landed in sixth place in its first weekend in wide release, with $5.7 million from 1,610 theaters.<\/p>\n
And though it has dropped out of the top 10 domestically, \u201cMichael\u201d has officially crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, only the second film this year to do so after \u201cThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie.\u201d It\u2019s also now the highest grossing musical biopic of all time, a title previously held by \u201cBohemian Rhapsody.\u201d<\/p>\n
The total domestic box office for the year is currently sitting just under $5.2 billion, up about 10.7% from this point last year. While both May and June were very strong \u2014 both generating over $1 billion in North America \u2014 July, Dergarabedian said, has faced some headwinds with a string of underperformers, including \u201cSupergirl.\u201d Things will likely pick up next week with the arrival of\u00a0Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d\u00a0followed by \u201cSpider-Man: Brand New Day\u201d the weekend after.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey could power a stronger August than July at the box office, which would be very unusual,\u201d Dergarabedian said.<\/p>\n
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:<\/p>\n
1. \u201cMoana,\u201d $43 million.<\/p>\n
2. \u201cMinions & Monsters,\u201d $20.5 million.<\/p>\n
3. \u201cToy Story 5,\u201d $18.5 million.<\/p>\n
4. \u201cEvil Dead Burn,\u201d $13.7 million.<\/p>\n
5. \u201cYoung Washington,\u201d $6.4 million.<\/p>\n
6. \u201cThe Invite,\u201d $5.7 million.<\/p>\n
7. \u201cObsession,\u201d $3.8 million.<\/p>\n
8. \u201cSupergirl,\u201d $3.6 million.<\/p>\n
9. \u201cDisclosure Day,\u201d $3.2 million.<\/p>\n
10. \u201cBackrooms,\u201d $1.5 million.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
#Disney #bet #big #popular #franchises #liveaction #remake #failed #splash<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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