Moana dipped its toes into the water as it entered the box office race this weekend, earning $43 million domestically. The film, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia, is a live-action remake of the 2016 Disney animated film of the same name. The Thomas Kail-directed film fell short of the domestic targets that ranged from $60 million to as high as $75 million. Overseas, the film added $52 million to its earnings. In total, it earned $95 million.
Despite not having the strongest opening, the people who did see it seemed to enjoy it. The film earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences. Audiences under 18 gave the film an A+ CinemaScore. This could end up being a good thing for the movie’s future. Word of mouth could help Moana to continue its box office journey and work towards making a profit. The movie reportedly has a $250 million budget.
The film’s domestic earnings are similar to those of the recent live-action version of Snow White. The live-action remake of the original Disney animated film earned $42 million domestically during its opening weekend in March 2025. It had a B+ CinemaScore and a $270 million production budget. Moana has not dealt with the controversies that Snow White did. It is very possible that despite a similar start at the box office, it will have a different ending. The last live-action remake of an animated Disney film was Lilo & Stitch in May 2025. It opened to $146 domestically before going on to earn over a billion dollars globally.
Moana could see some headwinds as it sails into next weekend with the release of The Odyssey. However, these movies also have two very different target audiences and could see success alongside the expected success of The Odyssey. Daps Magic will continue to follow this story and provide updates on the film’s progress.
Did you see Moana this weekend? If so, what did you think? If not, are you planning on seeing it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
