Disney's live action adaptation of Moana did not achieve the big summer hit the studio hoped for. This raises questions about what could happen at the box office for the film starring Dwayne Johnson, while also casting doubt on the remake potential of other animated classics.

Last year, Lilo & Stitch's record opening of $183 million and its surpassing of $1 billion worldwide had increased hopes that live action Moana would succeed during the summer months. The original animated film from 2016 follows the demigod Maui, voiced by Johnson, as he helps the main character Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) save her island. While the original film became a beloved production for families, it also managed to be one of the most-watched contents on the Disney+ platform. Additionally, the anticipation for new cinematic entries from the franchise was bolstered by the upcoming release of Moana 2 in 2024, which is expected to surpass $1 billion.

However, despite Disney expecting an opening of over $60 million, Moana's $43 million opening in North America has been recorded as one of the studio's weakest starts for remakes. Considering the $250 million production budget, this result is quite disappointing. The previous year's opening of $42.2 million for Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, and the $45.9 million debut of Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, were similarly low. These films may have been perceived as "old" by younger audiences due to their reinterpretation of original stories from earlier generations.