Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Wins Over Audiences Despite Critic Backlash Is History Repeating After ‘Michael’

Disney’s live-action remake trend has shown a consistent pattern over the last decade, where critics often express dissatisfaction while audiences either remain indifferent or show up in surprising numbers.

This dynamic has been evident time and again, from ‘Snow White’ to ‘Lilo and Stitch,’ with each release pushing the boundaries of how far the divide between critical reviews and audience excitement can stretch. The recent release of the live-action ‘Moana’ has taken this gap to new heights, more than any other Disney film to date.

‘Moana‘ hit theaters on July 10, reimagining Disney’s cherished 2016 animated feature, with Catherine Laga’aia taking on the titular role and Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. Reviews came in swiftly and were far from favorable, with the film landing in the mid 30s percentile on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as the lowest-rated entry in the entire ‘Moana’ franchise and one of the weakest scores among Disney’s recent live-action offerings.

Critics have frequently pointed to the film’s striking similarity to its animated counterpart as its primary flaw, questioning the necessity of a shot-for-shot remake.

In contrast, audiences have shared a vastly different perspective. With over 500 verified ratings logged, the live-action ‘Moana’ boasts a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, setting a new franchise record and surpassing the original animated film’s 89 percent audience approval. This stark contrast—a low critic score alongside a high audience reception—has become a major talking point surrounding the film’s release.

The financial performance of the film adds another layer to this narrative. The live-action ‘Moana’ opened below expectations, earning approximately 43 million domestically and around 95 million globally against a reported budget of 250 million, prompting some outlets to label it a box office disappointment for Disney.

It’s an unusual situation for a film to be loved by those who actually purchased tickets, yet still fall short of the commercial success the studio anticipated.

This disconnect mirrors a situation earlier this year with a different type of film. The Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael‘ faced its own wave of harsh reviews upon its April release, with critics often criticizing how the film portrayed its subject’s complex legacy.

Audiences, however, responded in the opposite manner, flocking to theaters and helping the film exceed modest pre-release projections to eventually surpass one billion dollars worldwide, making it the highest-grossing biopic ever.

The key difference between the two films lies in their post-release performance. ‘Michael’ successfully transformed audience enthusiasm into repeat viewings and sustained box office success that exceeded expectations over several months in theaters. In contrast, ‘Moana’ has struggled to convert its audience appreciation into ticket sales, leaving Disney with a film that viewers enjoy but that has not attracted enough initial audiences.

Part of this challenge may stem from the fact that ‘Moana’ is competing with its own original version, which audiences can easily access at home, as both the original film and its 2024 sequel remain immensely popular on Disney Plus. In fact, both animated films experienced a significant rise in streaming chart rankings the same weekend the live-action remake debuted, indicating that some fans may prefer revisiting the originals rather than paying for a new ticket to see a very similar story unfold.

Whether ‘Moana’ can gain traction in the coming weeks like ‘Michael’ did remains uncertain, though the film’s current numbers suggest it may face a tougher challenge. For now, the record-setting audience score shines as a bright spot for Disney amidst an otherwise rocky opening, even if it has not yet resulted in the box office turnaround the studio desires.

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