A Disappointing Editorial: The Live-Action Version of "Moana"

Disney’s live-action remake of “Moana” earned $43 million from ticket sales in the United States and Canada over the weekend, a disappointing figure for a franchise known for its strong box-office performance.

The live-action version, which cost $250 million to produce, retells the story of the 2016 animated film of the same name, but has received only a 35% positive critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The weak performance of the live-action remake stands in stark contrast to the beloved original, which grossed $687.2 million worldwide at the box office and became the most-watched film on streaming services in the United States since 2020, as well as to the animated sequel “Moana 2,” which has grossed more than $1 billion at the box office.