Disney’s Live-Action Moana Stumbles at Global Box Office

Disney’s live-action *Moana* opened to a soft $43 million domestically this weekend, claiming the top spot at the box office despite falling well below industry expectations. According to industry tracking, the film’s debut represents a tepid start for the studio’s latest live-action adaptation, trailing significantly behind the $146 million opening of 2024’s *Lilo & Stitch*. With a $250 million production budget and a total global gross of $95 million, the film faces a challenging path toward profitability.

Domestic Opening and Audience Reception

The film’s $43 million domestic debut struggled to gain momentum following a quiet $4.5 million in Thursday previews. While the opening numbers remain modest, audience sentiment offers a potential lifeline for the project. According to CinemaScore, the film earned an “A-” rating, and it maintains a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, critical reception has been polarized, with the film currently holding a 34% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. While family-oriented films often prove resilient against negative critical consensus, the combination of a high production budget and a slow start suggests the film will need strong word-of-mouth to “leg out” during its theatrical run.

Comparative Performance of Current Box Office Hits

The weekend box office landscape saw varied results for ongoing releases:

* Minions & Monsters: Universal’s sequel held steady, earning $20.5 million—a 45% drop from its opening. It has reached $108.3 million domestically and $280 million worldwide against an $85 million budget.
* Toy Story 5: The Pixar sequel remains a powerhouse, adding $18.5 million in its third weekend. With $403.8 million domestically and $879.1 million globally, the film is on track to surpass the $434 million domestic finish of its predecessor, *Toy Story 4*.
* Evil Dead Burns: The latest installment in the horror franchise debuted at $13.7 million, the lowest opening for an *Evil Dead* film since 1993’s *Army of Darkness*. It holds a 71% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B” CinemaScore.

Performance of Limited and Mid-Range Releases

A24’s *The Invite*, directed by Olivia Wilde, performed in line with projections, opening to $5.7 million. The film holds a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and has generated $8.7 million worldwide. Meanwhile, the historical drama *Young Washington* experienced a 67% drop in its second weekend, grossing $6.4 million. The film has accumulated $33.1 million domestically against a $20 million production budget.

Long-Running Successes

Some films continue to show remarkable endurance in theaters:

* Obsession: Now in its ninth frame, the indie horror hit added $3.8 million, bringing its domestic total to $253.3 million. Produced on a $1 million budget, it remains one of the most profitable releases of the year.
* Backrooms: The Kane Parsons-directed feature has reached $194.2 million domestically and $367.9 million worldwide, cementing its status as a financial success against its $10 million budget.
* Supergirl: The DC Studios production continues to struggle, dropping 59% in its fourth weekend with a $3.6 million haul. Its domestic total stands at $66 million against a $170 million budget.

Looking ahead, the theatrical market expects a shift next weekend with the release of Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey*, which is projected to open above $100 million.