Disney's live-action remake of Moana has become the latest box office disappointment of the summer, taking an estimated $43 million domestically in its opening three-day weekend, according to Deadline. The article argues that this underwhelming result does not signal that audiences have tired of Disney remakes — Lilo & Stitch grossed over $1 billion last year — but rather that the Moana remake arrived too soon after the original to feel worthwhile.

The animated Moana was released in November 2016 and its sequel, Moana 2, appeared only around 18 months ago, meaning the remake is neither a revival of a dormant favourite nor a fresh take on a long-past film. The piece also notes the remake faced strong competition from other children's films such as Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters, and was poorly reviewed, with Polygon calling it neither "unique, necessary, or even particularly interesting." Its $43 million opening was comparable to remakes widely seen as flops, including 2019's Dumbo and last year's Snow White.