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Moana’s Record Rotten Tomatoes Score Should Give Disney Pause
Forbes • • general
Key Points:
- The live-action remake of Moana has received a 37% Rotten Tomatoes score, marking it as the worst-reviewed Disney live-action adaptation to date, with criticisms focused on its visuals, performances, and perceived lack of necessity.
- Despite the original film's popularity, Moana's box office projections are weak, with an expected opening weekend of $40 to $65 million, much lower than hits like Lilo and Stitch, raising concerns about its financial success against its $250 million budget.
- Disney continues to push forward with several live-action adaptations, including Tangled (2027), Lilo and Stitch 2, Hercules, and others, but some notable franchises like Frozen and Encanto have yet to be adapted, with Frozen expected to be a major future success.
- The underperformance of Moana may prompt Disney to reconsider the pace and selection of future live-action remakes, potentially slowing down to reassess the viability of adapting every recent animated hit.
