Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has acknowledged that "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" and the live-action remake of "Moana" both underperformed at the box office this summer, but argued the films still benefited the wider company through merchandise, theme park attractions and streaming. Speaking on Disney's latest earnings call, D'Amaro said franchise investments continue to pay off even when box office targets are missed, framing theatrical results as just one part of a broader commercial strategy.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" opened over Memorial Day weekend with a domestic debut of $81 million and went on to earn $345 million worldwide, well short of the billion-dollar hauls achieved by earlier "Star Wars" instalments such as "The Rise of Skywalker" and "The Last Jedi". The live-action "Moana", starring Dwayne Johnson, has taken just $262 million worldwide against a production budget of around $250 million, with Variety reporting the film could lose Disney $100 million in cinemas. D'Amaro pointed to gains such as retail sales growth, increased footfall at Disneyland's Millennium Falcon attraction and anticipated streaming success for "Moana" on Disney+, while CFO Hugh Johnston described the film business as "a portfolio game" in which theatrical performance is only one data point within Disney's broader use of its intellectual property.