Disney's live action adaptation of Moana, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia, aims to make waves at the box office this weekend. However, the film may face challenges as it hits theaters less than two years after the last major cinematic release focused on the island. Directed by Thomas Kail, the film plans to open with between $60 million and $65 million across 3,900 theaters in North America.

The initial box office estimate is lower than previous tracking reports from last month. Earlier forecasts had suggested that Moana's opening could reach as high as $75 million. With a hefty production budget of $250 million, Disney hopes that Moana will remain a family-friendly option at the box office throughout the summer. The film is a remake of the animated musical from 2016, which featured Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui and Auli’i Cravalho as Moana.

The new Moana has not been well received among critics. David Rooney, chief film critic at The Hollywood Reporter, noted that “this new and appealing version stands on its own,” yet the film has only received a 37% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This situation may cause Disney to worry about franchise over-saturation.

Additionally, an animated sequel titled Moana 2 is set to be released in November 2024, featuring the return of Johnson and Cravalho. Initially conceived as a Disney+ series, this film had achieved great success, grossing $225 million domestically. Disney hopes the new Moana will have the same impact on audiences.