Disney’s live-action Moana has sailed into theaters with $4.5 million from Thursday preview screenings in North America, kicking off what is expected to be one of the summer’s biggest family releases. The remake of Disney’s beloved 2016 animated musical officially opens nationwide this weekend, with current industry projections pointing toward a domestic debut between $60 million and $65 million, although some tracking services have suggested a softer opening closer to $40 million.
The film stars newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, while Dwayne Johnson reprises his fan-favorite role as the demigod Maui after voicing the character in both animated films. Directed by Thomas Kail, the remake brings Disney’s Polynesian adventure back to the big screen nearly a decade after the original became one of the studio’s most successful modern animated films.
The opening weekend will be closely watched given the film’s reported $250 million production budget, with global marketing expected to push its overall costs significantly higher. While a debut in the $60–65 million range would provide a solid start, an opening closer to the lower-end projections could put additional pressure on the film to generate strong business over the coming weeks.
International markets are expected to play a major role in the film’s theatrical performance. Early forecasts suggest Moana could add another $70 million to $75 million overseas during its opening weekend, resulting in a worldwide debut of approximately $130 million to $140 million.
The remake now joins Disney’s long-running slate of live-action adaptations, arriving after a series of releases that have delivered mixed commercial results. The studio enjoyed a major success with Lilo & Stitch, which opened to $183 million over the Memorial Day holiday frame before crossing $1 billion worldwide. The Little Mermaid debuted with $95.5 million domestically and eventually grossed $569.6 million globally, while Mufasa: The Lion King recovered from a modest $35.4 million opening to finish with more than $722 million worldwide. Earlier this year, Snow White opened to $42.2 million domestically and concluded its theatrical run with approximately $205 million worldwide.
Compared to those releases, Moana’s $4.5 million preview total falls well below The Little Mermaid’s $10.3 million Thursday previews but ahead of Snow White’s $3.5 million, placing it somewhere in the middle of Disney’s recent remake launches.
The film revisits the story of Moana, the adventurous daughter of a Polynesian chief who embarks on a voyage across the ocean to save her island. Alongside Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson, the cast includes John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen. The screenplay is written by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, while composer Mark Mancina returns alongside songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who helped define the original film’s musical identity.
The original Moana, released in 2016, became one of Disney Animation’s biggest modern successes. Beyond its theatrical run, it enjoyed enormous popularity on streaming platforms and spawned the hit sequel Moana 2, further strengthening the franchise ahead of this live-action adaptation.
Critical reception, however, has been more restrained. Early reviews have been mixed to negative, with several critics arguing that the remake follows the animated original too closely without offering enough new ideas. Some reviews described the film as visually polished but lacking the emotional magic and freshness that made the 2016 version a standout. Catherine Laga’aia’s performance has earned praise from many reviewers, while Dwayne Johnson’s return as Maui and the film’s visual recreation of Polynesian culture have also received positive notices. Even so, several critics felt the remake struggled to justify its existence alongside the original. More favorable reviews noted that, while it may not surpass the animated classic, it succeeds as a family adventure and introduces the story to a new generation of audiences.
Final weekend estimates will be released on Sunday, with official domestic box office figures expected on Monday. Whether the film opens closer to the optimistic $60–65 million forecast or the more conservative $40 million projection, its performance over the coming weeks will determine whether Disney’s latest live-action remake can build the kind of sustained momentum that has powered several of the studio’s biggest theatrical successes.
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