It’s Official: Disney’s Live-Action Remake Capsizes After July 17 Update
Christopher Nolan has done it again.
Heading into its opening weekend, industry tracking suggested The Odyssey (2026) would launch between $85 million and $100 million domestically. Instead, the filmmaker’s latest historical epic shattered those forecasts, delivering a $124.5 million domestic debut and $264.1 million worldwide, according to Variety. The result marks Nolan’s biggest opening since The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and ranks as the third-largest domestic launch of 2026 behind Toy Story 5 (2026) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026).
The performance also reshapes the theatrical landscape for Disney’s live-action Moana (2026), which entered its second weekend facing the challenge of losing premium-format screens just as Nolan’s film arrived.
While pre-release forecasts were already optimistic, The Odyssey ultimately exceeded expectations by a considerable margin.
The film benefited from Christopher Nolan’s continued momentum following Oppenheimer (2023), with enthusiastic reactions from critics and audiences helping fuel interest before the opening weekend. Universal also emphasized the production’s technical achievements, highlighting that The Odyssey became the first feature filmed entirely with IMAX cameras.
Despite elements that traditionally limit mainstream appeal—including its R rating, nearly three-hour runtime, and historical subject matter—the film emerged as a theatrical event that audiences prioritized seeing on the biggest screens available. That strategy paid off in remarkable fashion.
Variety reported that premium formats were central to the film’s opening success. “Premium large formats contributed a massive 53% of the film’s domestic tally, with IMAX accounting for $51.8 million (or 23%) of global ticket sales,” the outlet noted.
Demand for 70mm IMAX presentations remained exceptionally high throughout the opening weekend, with many screenings selling out well ahead of release as moviegoers traveled significant distances to experience the film in its intended format.
Those premium ticket sales weren’t simply a bonus—they became one of the biggest reasons The Odyssey reached record-setting numbers. They also created immediate consequences for competing releases.
The Sad Story of Moana
Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana, starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana alongside Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, had already opened below expectations.
The remake earned approximately $43 million during its traditional three-day domestic opening and roughly $47.5 million across the extended four-day frame, finishing with $95 million worldwide against an estimated production budget between $200 million and $250 million before marketing expenses.
The comparison with Moana 2 (2024) is difficult to ignore. The animated sequel opened to $389 million globally before ultimately surpassing the $1 billion mark, highlighting a dramatic decline in franchise momentum over the span of two years.
Not only that, but during opening weekend, Moana debuted with a 36% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. At the time of this publication, that score has since slipped to 31%, while audiences have awarded the film an 89% rating. Even Snow White (2025), which received a 39% critics’ score, performed better with reviewers.
The negative critical response limited positive word-of-mouth at precisely the moment Disney needed sustained momentum entering the film’s second weekend.
The Odyssey Claimed the Premium Auditoriums
Before second-weekend numbers arrived, Disney had reportedly hoped Moana would decline around 55%, resulting in a domestic weekend of roughly $20 million.
Analysts, however, warned that surrendering IMAX and premium large-format screens to The Odyssey would reduce the remake’s earning potential because premium ticket prices had contributed significantly to opening-week revenue. That prediction proved accurate. According to Box Office Mojo, Moana fell 58.4% in its second weekend, bringing in $17.9 million domestically.
Universal reclaimed nearly every IMAX and premium-format auditorium for The Odyssey, leaving Moana to continue primarily on standard screens as audience attention shifted toward Nolan’s latest release.
The combination of a modest opening, poor critical reception, premium-screen losses, and direct competition has led analysts to project that Disney could ultimately lose millions on Moana if current box office trends continue.
The situation follows another disappointing live-action adaptation after Snow White, placing additional attention on Disney’s long-running remake strategy. Meanwhile, The Odyssey has strengthened the case for premium theatrical exhibition, reinforcing the drawing power of IMAX-exclusive experiences years after Oppenheimer demonstrated similar audience demand.
How do you feel about Disney’s live-action Moana? Let us know in the comments down below!
