Overview
- The Thomas Kail–directed live-action Moana opened July 10 and has earned about $263–266 million worldwide while spending roughly $250 million to produce, leaving the theatrical run on track for an estimated loss of at least $100 million.
- Professional critics have been harsh, giving the film roughly a 31% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, while general audiences have rated it far higher at about 88%, creating a pronounced critics-versus-audience split.
- Box office momentum faded quickly after a $43 million domestic debut, with North American grosses near $118–119 million as competing summer tentpoles and franchise saturation cut into the film’s legs.
- Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro acknowledged soft box-office results on the Aug. 5 earnings call and framed the title as a strategic asset for Disney+ and other divisions rather than a pure theatrical win.
- Star-producer Dwayne Johnson has publicly defended the project, saying representation of Polynesian culture was the film’s chief goal and arguing that cultural impact and downstream streams will matter more than initial reviews.