Disney’s Moana is making waves—but not the kind the studio wanted. The live-action remake is waving goodbye to premium large-format screens, and potentially $150 million for the studio.
MOANA live-action remake, starring Dwayne Johnson, is sinking -60% on its second weekend after losing all PLFs and IMAX screens to THE ODYSSEY.
With a budget of $250M, it is on track to lose Disney nearly $150M. pic.twitter.com/0gtWzmjmft
— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) July 15, 2026
According to GlobalBoxOffice, the $250 million production is tracking for a roughly 60% drop in its sophomore frame after opening to just $43 million domestically and $95 million worldwide. Those numbers were already well below expectations for one of Disney’s most expensive live-action remakes. Now, the film is about to surrender its premium large-format screens to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Losing IMAX at the Worst Possible Time
Shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, Nolan’s epic has been marketed as a must-see theatrical experience and will take over virtually all IMAX and other premium large-format (PLF) screens beginning July 17. That means Moana must depend entirely on 3D and traditional screenings just as it enters the crucial second weekend of its release.
The Rock as Maui in the live action trailer for Moana – YouTube, Disney
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For family films, a 60% decline is especially concerning. While front-loaded superhero movies often experience steep second-weekend drops, Disney’s animated and live-action family releases typically rely on strong word-of-mouth to generate steadier holds throughout the summer.
Last month’s Toy Story 5 only dropped 56% in its second weekend. While it had the added advantage of going up against Supergirl—which opened well below expectations—the latest Pixar film also enjoyed a massive opening weekend and was highly well-received by audiences.
A screenshot from the Toy Story 5 Teaser Trailer – YouTube, Pixar
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If current projections hold, Moana will struggle to build the long theatrical run needed to justify its enormous production budget. A steep second-weekend decline makes it much harder for a blockbuster to benefit from positive word-of-mouth. Rather than attracting new audiences in the weeks ahead, Moana will be relying on a shrinking pool of moviegoers while surrendering its most profitable screens to high-profile new releases.
That combination can dramatically reduce a film’s ultimate earning potential, particularly for a production carrying a reported $250 million budget before marketing and distribution expenses are even factored into the equation.
Still Better Than Snow White—In A Way
Last year, Snow White suffered a devastating 66% second-weekend drop, falling from a disappointing opening to just $14.2 million in its second frame. That performance effectively ended any realistic chance of the film recovering its reported $250 million production budget.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
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If Moana ultimately holds around a 60% drop, it would technically represent a stronger performance than Snow White. However, that is hardly encouraging. Moana debuted to a slightly higher box office and reportedly carried a similar production budget. It is believed that Snow White lost Disney $170 million in theatrical revenue before taking marketing and distribution into account.
Industry analysts suggest that Moana could ultimately cost Disney around $150 million once production costs, global marketing, and theatrical distribution expenses are factored in, unless the film manages to show stronger legs.
The Problem with Recent Remakes
Live-action remakes of Disney classics like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King were easily able to draw on deep generational nostalgia. But as the studio digs deeper into its back catalog, the window between the original animated release and its remake is growing shorter. While Lilo & Stitch remains a recent outlier, the performance of The Little Mermaid and Snow White suggests that nostalgia is no longer a guaranteed path to success.
The recent struggles of both Snow White and now Moana have renewed questions about whether audiences are growing tired of revisiting animated classics in live-action form. With premium screens shifting to The Odyssey and stronger competition arriving throughout the rest of July, Moana faces an uphill battle to avoid becoming another costly disappointment for the studio.
Are you surprised that Moana is facing a 60% second weekend drop? Sound off and let us know!
