Disney’s trend of lackluster live-action remakes might be finally winding down, and many are relieved. For several years, the studio shifted focus away from original storytelling to resurrecting beloved animated classics as “live-action” films. Some, like the 2015 “Cinderella,” 2016’s “The Jungle Book,” and the 2019 “The Lion King,” found immense success, the latter raking in nearly $1.7 billion globally.
Then there’s “Lilo & Stitch,” which hit over $1 billion by 2025. Yet, these triumphs come with a string of financial and critical flops. Let’s hope the recent string of poorly conceived films, which have disappointed audiences and critics alike, marks a turning point for the once-great studio.
Critics hit hard on the live-action remake of ‘Moana’
Released recently, “Snow White” is already being labeled one of the largest financial failures in Hollywood. The casting of Rachel Zegler didn’t go over well, especially when she opted to critique the original classic during promotions. Negative feedback on the leaked set images forced the filmmakers to reshoot scenes and edit the story, pushing the release back by a year.
The result? A widely panned performance from Zegler and a hefty loss for Disney—around $170 million. Meanwhile, “Moana,” which opened last weekend, also failed to avoid the negative fallout, even if it didn’t attract the same level of scrutiny pre-release. The opening weekend wasn’t promising.
Disney allocated a staggering $250 million for “Moana,” excluding considerable marketing expenses. If we factor in at least another $100 million for promotion—standard for such a high-budget film—the total production cost could exceed $350 million. Given the 50/50 revenue share with theaters, the film would need to pull in around $700 million just to break even.
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In its debut weekend, which often accounts for a significant portion of total box office returns, it managed to snag only $43 million. If we apply the usual 40% rule, that projects to around $107 million total in domestic box office. In comparison, the original “Moana” raked in $248 million back in 2016, equating to about $346.5 million adjusted for inflation.
While “Moana” might out-gross its animated counterpart, its disappointing start leaves little chance for profitability. Disney projects earnings of only $60-$65 million over the weekend, coming in at a disheartening $140 million worldwide. It was short by nearly $50 million, resulting in a total of just $95 million.
This costly misadventure will likely set Disney back at least $150 million. But the crux of the problem? Well, reviews weren’t entirely negative—it’s just that many felt the effort put forth was lackluster. From Dwayne Johnson’s distracting wig to the subpar special effects and background imagery that didn’t quite match the vibrancy of the original, there’s been ample criticism. After all, the animated version is only a decade old and easily accessible.
Dwayne Johnson at the helm: does this comment spell disaster?
Some found fault in Johnson’s comments promoting the film, recalling how he expressed his childhood inspiration from Indiana Jones—notably a character he felt didn’t resemble him. Was this the nail in the coffin for “Moana”? Probably not. However, it’s emblematic of Hollywood’s current fixation on pandering narratives.
Johnson has found tremendous success, despite not fitting an archetype, proving that connection with audiences isn’t solely about likeness. So the question lingers: are audiences being pushed away simply based on who starred in the movie?
What’s ahead for Disney?
These multiple factors are leading to profound losses for Disney, stemming from an apparent lack of clear ideas and a slew of poor remakes. They’re spending large sums on films that aren’t hitting the mark—and to top it off, their talent sometimes undermines their efforts. With new leadership in place, one would hope that a focus on innovation and a departure from the trend of uninspired remakes are on the horizon.
