Performance below expectations causes losses of US$ 150 million for live-action Moana
After its recent arrival in theaters, the live-action production of Moana, based on Disney’s acclaimed 2016 animation, performed below initial expectations. The film grossed US$43 million in North America alone, bringing its worldwide total to US$95 million in its first few days of release.
With the initial financial results, the adaptation suffered a deficit of more than US$150 million. It is estimated that the total cost to develop and produce this new version was approximately US$250 million, contributing to the challenging scenario.
Regarding performance, analyst Jeff Bock, from the company Exhibitor Relations, commented that Disney’s decision to create a remake versus a sequel directly impacts the box office. For Bock, the public seemed to have seen the new work more as a repetition than a special event. He also highlighted that many viewers were waiting for “Moana 3”, and not for a new version of the original film.
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Although there were reports about the possible development of a third film in the animated franchise, information from the film industry indicates that the studio chose to give priority to the live-action production of the first animation. This choice happened despite the expectation of a sequel.
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It is important to note the resounding success of previous Moana productions. The original animated film, released in 2016, remains one of the most watched titles on the Disney+ platform. Furthermore, the sequel, which arrived in 2024, achieved an impressive gross of more than US$1 billion at the global box office.
Despite the franchise’s history of success, the debut of the live-action Moana was on par with the performance of other productions that were not as successful as expected. Among them, the adaptation of “Snow White”, scheduled for 2025, stands out, which also encountered significant difficulties in its initial reception.
