Disney’s latest live-action adaptation faces a major disconnect between critics and viewers. While professional reviews hit an all-time low, audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes tell a different story. The film’s box office returns, however, may force Disney to rethink its remake strategy.
Disney’s live-action adaptation of Moana has sparked a striking divide between critics and audiences, according to new data from Rotten Tomatoes. Before its release, Moana received a 34% critic score-the lowest ever for a Disney live-action animation remake. Yet, early audience reviews have pushed the film to a 90% audience score, nearly matching the original animated version’s 89% with a much larger review base and a 96% critic score.
Despite the positive audience response, Moana is struggling at the box office. The film is projected to earn $43 million domestically, falling short of initial $60+ million forecasts and far behind the $146 million opening weekend of 2025’s Lilo and Stitch remake. For comparison, Toy Story 5 brought in $159 million this year. With a reported production budget of $250 million, plus additional marketing and distribution expenses, Moana faces the possibility of becoming a significant financial loss for Disney.
Industry observers point to several factors behind the film’s underperformance. The original Moana debuted just a decade ago, and the recent release of Moana 2 in 2024 may have contributed to audience fatigue. While high audience scores are often used in marketing-Disney is currently promoting the 90% “verified hot” Rotten Tomatoes rating-critics’ overwhelmingly negative reviews appear to be impacting the film’s commercial prospects.
Social media has amplified the conversation, with bootleg clips circulating that highlight what some viewers describe as uninspired acting and visuals. Meanwhile, horror film Evil Dead Burn, released the same weekend on a $20 million budget, is expected to earn 40-50% of Moana’s take, underscoring the challenges facing big-budget family films.
Looking ahead, Disney’s next major live-action adaptation, Tangled, starring Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim, and Kathryn Hahn, will likely be scrutinized for lessons learned from Moana’s performance. Unlike Moana, Tangled and its characters have not appeared on screen since 2010, potentially offering a fresher slate.
The assumption that beloved animated properties will guarantee box office success, regardless of critical reception, is being tested. For now, Moana’s high audience score stands in stark contrast to its commercial and critical challenges.
Disney, founded in 1923, remains one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, with annual revenues exceeding $80 billion and a global workforce of over 200,000 employees. The company’s strategy of remaking animated classics into live-action films has generated billions in box office revenue over the past decade, but recent results suggest the formula may be losing its reliability.
