Disney's live-action Moana crashes to shore with an underwhelming splash at the box office
Disney's live-action remake of Moana debuted with a disappointing $95 million global box office performance. Despite positive audience scores, the film faced harsh critical reviews for being too similar to the original animated version.
Why it matters
The film's underperformance raises questions about the viability of Disney's strategy of producing shot-for-shot live-action remakes of recent animated hits.
This latest Moana brings Dwayne Johnson back as the demigod Maui and introduces Catherine Lagaʻaia as the adventuring Polynesian princess. Despite praise for Lagaʻaia, the film set sail on a wave of dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original.
The article provides a balanced view by contrasting poor critical reception with relatively positive audience feedback and box office data.
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