Disney’s live-action Moana sets sail into theaters

Disney’s live-action “Moana” premiered in theaters July 9. Earning $95 million ($43 million domestic and $52 million international) on its opening weekend, the film is only grossing around $111.7 million as opposed to its massive $250 million production cost.

The live-action “Moana” retells the memorable 2016 story with real actors — casting Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui — and emphasizes Polynesian culture and traditions. However, despite supporters praising the performances and cultural representations, critics have questioned whether or not the remake was even necessary in the first place; some believing that the remake does not offer enough new material to warrant a remake. Currently, the movie is rated 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 5.7 out of 10 on IMDb, and 89% on Fandango, with most critics saying that it lacked originality and connectivity to its animated counterpart.

With that being said, much of the online discourse regarding the film has also raised questions about whether Disney’s growing number of live-action remakes has led to franchise fatigue. Some internet users have stated that they believe the live-action remake arrived too soon following the success of “Moana 2,” and that the remake felt redundant, seeing as the original film is still widely popular through streaming services, making many users feel like the movie was a cash grab. On the other hand, some people defended the remake, saying that its feature of Polynesian actors and cultural traditions allowed Pacific Islander communities to be represented in mass media.

Overall, despite the mixed reception, “Moana”’s first-place opening at the domestic box office will only continue to fuel Disney’s strategy of adapting its animated classics into live-action films. The movie’s ultimate success will still depend on its performance in the upcoming weeks, but its release has already reignited conversations and debates over Disney’s future productions.