Disney’s ‘Moana’ Is About To Be Buried Permanently After Latest Update

Disney’s latest live-action remake is heading into a pivotal second weekend, but the studio now faces far more than disappointing reviews. With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026) arriving in theaters, Moana (2026) is set to compete against one of the year’s biggest theatrical events at a time when its own box office outlook has already raised concerns.

Moana entered theaters with high expectations but delivered a muted debut. The remake earned approximately $43 million domestically over its first three days and $47.5 million across the extended four-day opening, despite carrying a reported production budget between $200 million and $250 million before marketing costs.

The comparison with its animated predecessor is difficult to ignore. Moana 2 (2024) launched with $389 million worldwide over five days before ultimately surpassing $1 billion globally, making the live-action adaptation’s opening look significantly softer.

Critical reception has only added to the challenge. The film debuted with a 36% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it below Snow White (2025), which currently sits at 39%, making Moana Disney’s lowest-rated live-action remake so far. That distinction follows Snow White‘s own difficult release, which faced months of controversy surrounding casting decisions and changes to the Seven Dwarfs before becoming one of Disney’s most disappointing recent theatrical performers.

Industry projections suggested Disney hoped for roughly a 55% decline in weekend two, putting domestic earnings near the $20 million mark. Under ordinary circumstances, that would represent a manageable hold. This weekend, however, arrives under very different conditions.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Arrives With Massive Expectations

Universal is preparing to launch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the filmmaker’s first feature since the Academy Award-winning Oppenheimer (2023). According to Deadline, the epic adaptation is projected to debut between $85 million and $100 million domestically while targeting more than $200 million globally across 73 international territories and approximately 22,700 screens.

For Moana, the release couldn’t come at a more difficult moment. Unlike a traditional studio release, The Odyssey has been positioned as a premium theatrical event, with audiences encouraged to experience the film in IMAX—the format Nolan used throughout production. Reports indicate premium 70MM IMAX screenings sold out more than a year ahead of release at venues including the BFI IMAX London, the London Science Museum, Melbourne Museum IMAX, and Prague’s Oskar IMAX Plaza.

The ensemble cast also gives the three-hour R-rated adaptation considerable appeal, featuring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, and Lupita Nyong’o.

Advance ticket sales reportedly reached between $30 million and $40 million before release, placing the film alongside major performers including Wicked: For Good (2025) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), although those totals include Monday and Tuesday screenings beyond opening weekend.

Nolan’s recent box office history also favors a lengthy theatrical run. Oppenheimer opened with $82.4 million domestically before earning roughly four times that figure during its North American run. Similar staying power was seen with Dunkirk (2017) and Inception (2010), suggesting The Odyssey could remain a dominant theatrical attraction for weeks.

Audience Debate Continues

Online discussion increasingly reflects broader fatigue with Disney’s live-action remake strategy. Following the film’s opening weekend, one social media user wrote, “No one asked for or wanted this movie.” Another added, “Let this finally be the end of the live-action remake,” arguing Disney should instead prioritize original animation.

Others have defended the franchise, pointing to Moana‘s continued popularity on Disney+ and predicting stronger long-term performance, with one fan describing the original film as a “Disney+ goldmine.” Even so, much of the online reaction mirrors the concerns now reflected in the film’s theatrical performance.

Despite recent setbacks, Disney has not indicated any plans to scale back its remake strategy. A live-action adaptation of Tangled (2010) remains in development under director Michael Gracey, whose credits include The Greatest Showman (2017). The project stars Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim, Kathryn Hahn, and Diego Luna, with a reported release targeted for 2028.

That film has already generated online discussion surrounding its casting, and its eventual reception could further influence debate over Disney’s long-running remake initiative. After more than a decade of revisiting animated classics, the studio may soon face growing questions over whether familiarity alone still translates into theatrical success.

Moana also faced an additional hurdle unique to its release schedule. Earlier remakes often revisited films decades after their animated debuts, allowing nostalgia to build over time. By contrast, this adaptation arrived only a little over a year after Moana 2 completed its billion-dollar theatrical run, meaning audiences were asked to revisit the same property in rapid succession—just as one of Christopher Nolan’s most anticipated films reached theaters.

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