Disney's decision to release a live-action remake of Moana 10 years after its original animated release is a strategic move that leverages the film's enduring popularity and cultural impact. The original Moana, released in 2016, was a box office success, grossing over $643 million globally and spawning a sequel that made over $1 billion worldwide. The film's popularity is further evidenced by its status as the most-watched movie in Disney+ history, with over 1.5 billion hours of viewing. Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the demigod Maui, emphasized the film's universal appeal, highlighting its representation of Polynesian culture and its resonance with audiences worldwide.
The live-action remake is part of a broader trend in the film industry, with Disney reaching into its vault to redo animated classics in a live-action format. However, the timing of Moana's remake is notable, as it is the shortest time between an original animated movie and its live-action reimagining. The next closest example is Lilo & Stitch, which was released 23 years after its original animated debut. The popularity of Moana is further underscored by the strong performance of its sequel, which made over $1 billion worldwide, and the positive reception of the film's Polynesian dance performance at the Hollywood Bowl premiere.
Despite the success of Disney's live-action remakes, there have been some notable misfires, such as Snow White, which cratered at the box office due to controversies surrounding its casting and depiction of little people. However, live-action retellings have typically performed well overseas, with films across all genres bringing in about half of their revenue from international markets. Across 13 recent live-action films from Disney and other studios, all made more than 60% of their global box office revenue in international markets.
The success of Moana's live-action remake is expected to be bolstered by its strong fanbase and the lack of saturation in the market, with analysts predicting an opening weekend haul of $75 million. However, the film's production budget of $250 million and mixed early reviews on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with a 37% rating, suggest that the film's success will depend on its ability to resonate with audiences and maintain the cultural impact of the original animated film.
