Disney's live-action remake of Moana claimed the top spot at the North American box office over the weekend, but its $43 million debut fell short of generating the expected blockbuster momentum.
The film, which cost $250 million to produce, added $52 million from 50 international markets, bringing its global opening to $95 million, according to studio estimates reported by The Guardian.
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Mixed Reviews and Audience Response
Directed by Thomas Kail, the movie stars Dwayne Johnson as Maui and introduces Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana.
Critics were largely unimpressed, giving it a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes and describing it as a shot-for-shot copy of the original animated classic.
Audience reactions were more favorable. Women made up 66% of viewers, and PostTrak data showed 63% would definitely recommend the film.
Parental approval was higher, with 78% saying they would recommend it to other families, contributing to an A- CinemaScore.
Disney's live-action adaptations have a mixed track record.
Hits like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast crossed $1 billion, while last year's Snow White ended its run with $205 million globally after a $42.2 million domestic opening.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, attributed Moana's performance to an oversaturation of PG-rated films currently in theaters.
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Universal's Minions & Monsters took second place with $20.5 million, and Toy Story 5 followed with $18.5 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its global total to $879.1 million.
