A big blow for Disney: the live-action Vaiana (2026) did not raise the amount initially hoped for in the first weekend. With a total gross of $95 million worldwide, the new version of the popular animated film is already disappointing at the cinema box office.
Yield disappoints
Disney had high hopes for the live-action Vaianabut the reality is disappointing. The expectation and hope was that the latest movie would collect $130 million in its first weekend. Variety now reports that Vaiana ‘only’ managed to raise $95 million at its opening. And while that may seem like a lot, it’s a “catastrophic start,” according to Variety.
5.8
Moana is a live-action version of Disney’s animated adventure. Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) answers the call of the ocean and sails past the reef of her island Motunui for the first time.
Criticism of Vaiana
This is mainly due to the fact that the live-action of the 2016 animation cost $250 million to make. That makes Moana one of the worst opening Disney films in recent years. It doesn’t help that the live-action wasn’t exactly well received by critics and viewers. According to many fans and experts, the updated version comes just too soon after the release of the original.
Epic adventure
When the ocean calls her, Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) doesn’t hesitate for a moment. She braves the safe reef of her home island of Motunui and chooses the open sea. Together with the legendary and idiosyncratic demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), she embarks on an epic adventure at sea to ensure the survival of her people.
