Disney had high hopes for its live-action Moana, especially after the strong box office performance of the two animated films that came before it. To support the project, the company allocated 250 million dollars for production and spent another 145 million dollars on promotion.
The opening weekend did not meet those expectations. The film earned 43 million dollars in the United States and reached 95 million dollars worldwide, numbers that look especially weak next to its total cost. Early analysis now suggests that Disney could lose about 125 million dollars.
Set in ancient Polynesia, the film follows a brave young character who sets out on a daring mission to prove herself as an explorer and complete an unfinished search left by her ancestors. The new version, like the animated one, tells the story through songs. Catherine Laga'aia plays Moana, while Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, a role he also voiced in the animated films.