Live-Action ‘Moana’ Heads to Disney+ as Disney Blames ‘Moana 2’ for the Box Office Disappointment

Disney’s live-action remakes have a tricky balancing act: they have to feel new enough to justify a second trip to the theater while staying close enough to the original to please devoted fans. When the formula works, it can mean a billion-dollar payday. When it doesn’t, the question becomes why.

The live-action ‘Moana‘ is now headed to the streaming service where its animated predecessor became a phenomenon. Disney has confirmed the Dwayne Johnson-led film will begin streaming on Disney+ on October 21. It follows a digital purchase release in September and a Blu-ray and DVD launch on October 6.

The streaming debut comes with a bit of baggage. The film earned a disappointing $323 million worldwide at the summer box office, with some outlets reporting a lower total of about $315 million, against a reported $250 million production budget. Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden has now offered an explanation for why audiences did not show up in larger numbers.

New trailer for live-action ‘MOANA’ in theaters July 20. https://t.co/xEYCrTLB8S

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Walden spoke at Bloomberg’s Screentime event on October 1, in an interview with Lucas Shaw. She said the market is so competitive that a film needs to be the right one at the right time, with audiences feeling a certain level of demand. In her view, the live-action ‘Moana’ opened too soon after ‘Moana 2’, a gap of only about 18 months.

She described the remake as an excellent film, and said the short window simply did not leave enough time for audiences to build up appetite for another ‘Moana’ story. Her comments focus on timing and demand rather than on critics or the film’s quality. They also present just one factor rather than a complete account of the result.

The explanation is partly tied to how strangely the ‘Moana’ franchise has unfolded. The original animated film arrived in 2016, and ‘Moana 2’ followed in November 2024, 8 years later. That sequel was reportedly conceived as a Disney+ series before being turned into a full theatrical release, and it went on to cross $1 billion at the box office.

Walden noted that ‘Moana 2’ came together under unusual circumstances, and the live-action film followed quickly on its heels. That left Disney with 3 releases in the franchise within a relatively short span of time, and audiences may have felt they had already had their fill. It is an example of how scheduling choices can shape a film’s fate.

Critics were not kind to the remake. It holds a score of about 32% to 33% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a 42 out of 100 on Metacritic, well below the 96% earned by the 2016 animated film. Audiences, however, have been much more positive, giving it an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A– from CinemaScore.

Johnson responded to the harsh reviews in August, though Walden’s remarks have stayed focused on timing. That gap between critics and viewers suggests the film may find a more receptive crowd at home. Streaming often rewards family-friendly titles that did not take off in theaters.

Catherine Laga’aia makes her film debut as Moana, with Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui after voicing the character in the animated films. Rena Owen plays Gramma Tala, John Tui plays Chief Tui, Frankie Adams plays Sina and Jemaine Clement plays Tamatoa, the shiny king crab. Moana’s pet pig Pua, the confused rooster Heihei, the Kakamora and the fiery Te Kā also return.

Thomas Kail directed the film, from a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller. It was released in theaters on July 10. The story follows Moana as she answers the Ocean’s call and voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with Maui on a journey to restore prosperity to her people.

If any title belongs on Disney+, it is ‘Moana’. The original animated film is the most-watched movie of all time on the service, with more than 1.5 billion hours streamed globally. That built-in audience gives the remake a strong chance to reach families who skipped the theatrical run.

For Disney, the streaming launch is also a chance to reset the conversation. There has been no word of a live-action follow-up, though a ‘Moana 3’ has been reported as an animated project. Whether the remake finds its audience at home may influence how the studio thinks about future adaptations.

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