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‘Moana’ joins ‘Snow White’ as the latest live-action Disney film to bomb at box office
An OutKick analysis published by Fox News argues that Disney's live-action remake of "Moana" has flopped at the box office, placing it alongside the studio's poorly received "Snow White" as further evidence that Disney's long-running strategy of reworking its animated classics is faltering. The piece frames the disappointing performance as a possible turning point, suggesting the era of what it calls "lazy" live-action remakes may finally be drawing to a close. This matters because Disney has, for much of the past decade, prioritised remaking its catalogue over producing original films.
The article notes that the live-action "Moana" stars Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia and is directed by Thomas Kail, and that critics have savaged the film. It contrasts these recent failures with earlier remakes that performed well either critically or commercially, citing the 2015 "Cinderella" as an example. The full text is truncated and offers limited box-office figures, while the surrounding page is dominated by unrelated headlines.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The poor box-office performance of live-action remakes like 'Moana' and 'Snow White' reflects clear audience fatigue with Disney's strategy of recycling its animated catalogue rather than investing in original storytelling. When even major stars such as Dwayne Johnson cannot draw audiences to these films, and critics consistently savage them, it suggests the model has exhausted its commercial and creative viability. Disney's resources would be far better deployed developing genuinely new narratives that challenge audiences and demonstrate artistic ambition, rather than diminishing beloved originals through cynical, profit-driven reworkings.
The case against
Judging an entire business strategy on the basis of two underperforming films ignores the substantial commercial success of earlier live-action remakes such as 'Cinderella', whilst overlooking broader market headwinds that have affected the wider theatrical industry. Live-action adaptations offer distinct value—they reach audiences who might not engage with animation, provide fresh creative interpretations, and have consistently generated significant profits across Disney's slate. A few recent disappointments do not invalidate a model that has demonstrably worked for years; rather, Disney should refine its approach and learn from specific creative missteps rather than abandon the category entirely.
Explained simply
Disney has spent the past decade remaking its classic animated films as live-action productions, betting that audiences would pay to see familiar stories told with real actors and updated technology. Several of these films, such as 2015's "Cinderella", found success with critics or audiences, encouraging the studio to continue this approach.
However, recent live-action remakes including "Moana" and "Snow White" have underperformed at the box office and received poor critical reviews. This represents a shift, as the studio has prioritised remaking its catalogue over developing original new stories in recent years.
The repeated underperformance of these live-action remakes raises questions about whether audiences still want to see animated classics reimagined with real actors. If the trend continues, it may force Disney to reconsider whether its strategy of remaking beloved films remains financially viable.