Disney executives have defended the company's franchise film strategy after Moana and The Mandalorian and Grogu both underperformed at the box office, arguing that theatrical results are just one measure of a property's value. CEO Josh D'Amaro told shareholders that even when films miss box office targets, they still boost other parts of the business, such as retail sales, theme park attractions and gaming engagement. CFO Hugh Johnston echoed this on an earnings call, describing the film business as "a portfolio game" in which theatrical performance is "just one data point" within a wider ecosystem spanning experiences, streaming and merchandise.

The Mandalorian and Grogu, released in May, opened to a series low, while Moana's live-action remake debuted on 10 July with a worldwide opening of $95 million, well short of the $130 million hoped for and among the weakest launches for a Disney live-action redo of an animated classic. Despite this, D'Amaro said Moana is expected to perform strongly on Disney+, building on the original animated film's status as one of the most-streamed movies ever. The comments came alongside Disney's quarterly earnings, which were otherwise boosted by Toy Story 5, theme park revenue and streaming profits.