Live-Action Moana Opens to $95 Million, Tops Domestic Box Office

Disney's live-action remake of Moana earned $43 million in the United States and Canada and $52 million internationally over its first three days for a global total of $95 million. The film finished first at the domestic box office. Studio estimates had projected a domestic opening of $60 million to $65 million.

The $250 million production budget exceeds the opening weekend gross by more than double. Universal Pictures and Illumination's Minions & Monsters took second place with $20.5 million. Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 placed third at $18.5 million.

Evil Dead Burn grossed $13.7 million and Angel Studios' Young Washington earned $6.4 million. The original 2016 animated Moana opened to $82 million over five days at Thanksgiving and grossed $248 million domestically and $643 million worldwide. Its 2024 sequel collected $225 million in its opening weekend and surpassed $1 billion globally.

The live-action version received a 34 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 90 percent audience score. Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui. Disney's live-action Mufasa: The Lion King opened to $35 million in 2024 before reaching more than $722 million worldwide.

The 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch grossed more than $1 billion. The Odyssey is scheduled to open worldwide on July 17, 2026, followed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.