Dwayne Johnson's 'Moana' Remake Labeled 'Disaster,' Facing Questions of Box Office Irrelevance

The live-action "Moana" remake has underperformed at the box office, leading a prominent Hollywood analyst to declare that star Dwayne Johnson may be heading toward "box office irrelevance." The film's opening weekend domestic gross of $43 million and worldwide debut of $95 million have been described as "disastrous," especially given its $250 million budget.

Scott Mendelson, a box-office columnist for Puck News, voiced this assessment in a newsletter by Matthew Belloni. Mendelson suggested that the film's reception indicates Disney's live-action remake strategy is faltering. He pointed out that remaking "Moana," released in 2016, less than a decade prior, deviates significantly from Disney's typical remake timeframe, which averages around 27 years. This rapid turnaround, he argued, made the film an ill-suited candidate for a remake.

Mendelson also commented on Johnson's career, noting that the 54-year-old actor's recent projects, including "The Smashing Machine" and "Moana," could be interpreted as parables about confronting age and declining bankability. He drew a contrast with the animated "Moana 2" animated film from 2024, which generated over $1 billion globally and opened to $225 million domestically.

While acknowledging that Disney continues to plan remakes, such as "Tangled" for 2028 and a "How to Train Your Dragon" reimagining, Mendelson predicted they will not be as frequent nor automatically expected to be top-tier successes. He cited the $637 million global gross of last summer's live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" as a point of comparison.

The "Moana" remake features Johnson as the demigod Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia as Moana. Mendelson concluded that the lack of excitement surrounding the "Moana" remake, despite Disney's marketing efforts, suggests a shift in audience expectations for such films.