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Disney’s live-action Moana took in $4.5 million in Thursday previews and is projected to open domestically in the $60–65 million range this weekend (with some forecasts around $40 million), while international box office could add another $70–75 million; the $250 million production budget and the film’s remake status will test its appeal amid Disney’s string of live-action releases.
Disney's live-action Moana opened with about $4.5 million in Thursday previews, well below early expectations for a high-40s/60M domestic debut, and critics have it at roughly 35% on Rotten Tomatoes; success for the weekend will hinge on strong walk-up audiences amid competition from Toy Story 5 and other family titles, with the film's reception likely to influence its midweek momentum.
In a D23 Q&A ahead of Moana’s July 10 premiere, Catherine Lagaʻaia discusses embodying Moana in Disney’s live-action remake and the importance of authentic Pacific representation, while Dwayne Johnson explains Maui’s flesh-and-blood portrayal and the collaboration with director Thomas Kail and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to honor Polynesian culture. The piece highlights the film’s large production scale (about 2,000 people involved) and previews exclusive CinemaCon portraits as the team aims to honor the animated film’s legacy while charting a fresh course for the live-action voyage.
Dwayne Johnson’s live-action Moana remake is drawing some of the worst reviews of his career, with critics slamming a near shot-for-shot re-creation, a lackluster performance (including a controversial “fright wig”) and a sense he’s on autopilot, while box-office projections signal a weak U.S. debut despite Disney’s blockbuster history for the franchise.
Critics panned Disney's live-action Moana remake, calling it purposeless and lifeless and even likening it to AI-generated content; early reviews pointed to a weak Rotten Tomatoes score, while the beloved original’s status and the film’s box-office potential raise questions about the future of Disney's live-action revivals.
Alisa Bowen, Disney+ president since Sept 2022, is leaving Disney+ to become CEO of Fubo, the Disney-controlled streaming service. The appointment, effective July 10, follows Disney’s integration of Hulu + Live TV with Fubo and Bowen joining Fubo’s board subject to stockholder approval, with co-founder David Gandler stepping down. Bowen’s compensation includes a $1.575 million base salary, potential bonuses, and sizable equity awards.
Fubo has named Disney veteran Alisa Bowen as its new CEO, replacing co-founder David Gandler, as the streamer merges with Hulu + Live TV. Bowen, a former Disney+ president who helped build Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, says she will sharpen Fubo’s strategy across sports, news and entertainment, drive growth and profitability, and deliver greater value to subscribers and partners. Bowen is expected to join Fubo’s board subject to shareholder approval at the July 28, 2026 meeting; Gandler will not seek reelection.
Disney’s live‑action Moana has been met with sweeping critical backlash, described as soulless, lifeless, and pointless, with a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score around 36% vs. 95% for the 2016 animated film. Critics argue the near-shot-for-shot remake revisits a decade-old hit too soon and that heavy CGI strips the original’s heart. A handful of outlets (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, RogerEbert.com) offered more forgiving takes praising visuals or Laga’aia’s performance, but the overall reception could influence Disney’s remake strategy. Box office remains a key question, as remakes have sometimes topped $1 billion, and Moana would need roughly $900 million worldwide to match the original’s impact.
FX has set American Horror Story Season 13’s premiere for Sept. 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, with international Disney+ streaming; at San Diego Comic-Con, four themed ice-cream trucks and photo ops will promote the season, which includes a mix of returning stars (Ariana Grande, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, John Waters, Leslie Grossman) and new cast members Paul Anthony Kelly, Berto Colón, and Joey Pollari.
Disney's live-action Moana opens July 10 to heavy critical backlash, currently at 31% on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews with remarks that it lacks inventiveness and largely mirrors the 2016 film; audiences have not yet weighed in, while the film is projected to debut around $85 million domestically.
Disney's Moana live-action arrives amid a decade of profitable but mixed remakes: several have topped $1B at the global box office while others, like Snow White, underperform against inflation-adjusted expectations. Critical reception varies—some remakes outperform their originals on certain metrics (The Jungle Book), while others (Pinocchio) are still fettered by original-classic praise. To match the animated original’s legacy in inflation-adjusted terms, the new film would need a substantial global haul (roughly $900M). Additionally, many remakes skipped theaters for streaming, complicating direct comparisons. The article uses four charts to illustrate these financial and critical trends across Disney’s live-action remakes.
Early reactions to Disney's live-action Moana are polarized: some critics call the remake among the ugliest movies of the year and a weak imitation of the original, while others praise the visuals and standout performances. The film, which hits theaters July 10, is noted for moments of strong chemistry between Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson, despite mixed overall sentiment.
Ryan Seacrest revealed on his morning show that he RSVP’d yes to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding but had to cancel after Disney hired him to host its 4th of July 250 special, explaining he was torn but honored to be invited; the wedding at Madison Square Garden in NYC occurred on July 3.
Disney’s live‑action Moana is projected to debut to about $60–65 million in North America from roughly 3,875 theatres, though some trackers warn of a softer $35–40 million start, a cautionary figure given the film’s $250 million production budget; international sales are expected to hit $70–75 million. The domestic forecast places Moana among Disney’s lower openings for live‑action remakes, especially when compared with prior hits, and analysts note even strong overseas performance may struggle to offset costs amid competition from Evil Dead Burn, The Invite and holdovers like Minions & Monsters and Toy Story 5.