Moana Live-Action Gets Off to a Slow Start as Pre-Sales Raise Early Concerns

Moana live-action is already receiving unexpected news even months before its scheduled release in the theaters, as per reports. Global Box Office X account indicates that pre-sales for the film have been lower than predicted, raising questions as to whether the remake of the Disney animated hit will have the same box office success as many expect the project.

With a reported budget of more than 200 million and Dwayne Johnson reprising his popular demigod Maui, it was anticipated that Moana might be Disney’s blockbuster for 2026. So far, with the reported initial presales may be questioning whether it is possible to create enough enthusiasm for the film leading up to the release in July.

Moana Live-Action Sees A Rocky Start With Reported Terrible Pre-Sales

Dwayne Johnson as maui | Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Pre-sales give an indication of how a film should perform, so although this is simply one factor, it can still be indicative of the way in which an audience is interested in a production. Reportedly, the live-action version of Moana does not seem to be generating the same buzz that some of Disney’s remakes have. Another potential drawback for the film may be an overly competitive release calendar. Moana live-action is set to hit theaters on July 10, 2026, just weeks after the opening of the Disney film.

Several other family-friendly films are to be released around the same time, including Pixar’s Toy Story 5, as well as Minions & Monsters, which is the 3rd installment in the Minions spin-off series from the Despicable Me franchise. Another reason for such low sales could be that the remake is coming too close to Moana 2’s stellar run, and audiences might find a revisit to the same story a bit redundant.

Ever since the first teaser was released, the visuals have been a point of contention with some viewers citing the color choices and reliance on visual effects. Dwayne Johnson as Maui has had a polarized reaction on the internet, with some fans making negative comparisons to the animated depiction. Directed by Thomas Kail in his first feature, it stars newcomer Catherine Laga’aia and includes Dwayne Johnson, who reprises the role of Maui, which he played in the animated films.

It also features John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen, and Jemaine Clement. Having said all that, Disney still has months to go before Moana officially hits the box office. It’s unclear whether the weak pre-sales signals lack interest from potential consumers or are just a slow start, but the film’s professional box office story has become one of the many occurrences of what should be one of the more-watched summer movie seasons.

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Live-action Moana is set to release in theatres on July 10, 2026.