Live-Action ‘Moana’ Hits Streaming This Week

Disney’s live-action version of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Catherine Lagaʻaia moana hits digital streaming this week after navigating choppy waters in theaters.

The new version of moana arrives 10 years after the box office success of the animated original, where the brave teenage title character (Auli’i Cravalho) answers the call of the ocean to leave his home island of Motunui and travel beyond the reef in an attempt to rescue his homeland before it dies. Accompanying Moana on the mission to restore prosperity is the shape-shifting demigod Maui (Johnson).

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Johnson returns as Maui in live action moanawhile Lagaʻaia takes on the role of the main character. The film also stars John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen, Amaya Masoli and Jemaine Clement, who reprises his voice role from the animated original as the voice of the giant crab Tamatoa.

Moana opened in theaters on July 10 and earned $43 million in its opening weekend, well below pre-release projections. Starting September 3, moana has grossed $126.1 million in North American theaters. Combined with the film’s international earnings of $189.3 million, Moana has a worldwide box office total of $315.4 million to date. The film had a production budget of $250 million before marketing costs, according to Variety.

On the contrary, the animated version of moana In 2016 it earned $248.7 million in ticket sales domestically and $435.6 million internationally for a worldwide box office of $684.3 million. The production budget for the animated version of Moana was $150 million before marketing costs.

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Acknowledging the film’s disappointing reception to live action. moana At the box office during the company’s earnings call in early August, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said the film, as well as another high-profile summer title that underperformed, contributed to the company in other ways.

“Even when our franchise films don’t meet our box office expectations, as is the case with The Mandalorian and Grogu and live action moana“Our investments in these prime properties drive other parts of our company,” D’Amaro said (via Variety).

D’Amaro also said during the earnings call that he was bullish on the live stock. Moana way forward in the transmission, saying (via Variety), “Live action moana “It is expected to be a strong title on Disney+, building on the success of the original film, which is one of the most streamed films of all time.”

Before the new version of moana comes to Disney+, however, it will debut on digital streaming via premium video on demand.

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