With a $250 million production budget, Disney’s latest live-action remake targets a $60M–$65M domestic debut while horror entry Evil Dead Burn and A24’s The Invite compete for audiences in a crowded weekend marketplace.
Disney is returning audiences to the Pacific with its live-action adaptation of Moana, but the film's first box office numbers suggest the studio faces a pivotal opening weekend as it seeks to justify one of its largest theatrical investments of the year.
The musical adventure earned $4.5 million in Thursday preview screenings, positioning the remake for an estimated $60 million to $65 million domestic debut. Some industry forecasts, however, remain more conservative, projecting an opening closer to $40 million, creating uncertainty around the film's initial commercial trajectory.
Featuring Catherine Laga'aia in the title role alongside Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his fan-favorite performance as Maui, the film represents Disney's latest effort to transform its animated classics into live-action blockbusters.
