Live-Action ‘Moana’ Sails Onto Disney+ as Disney Explains Why the Remake Sank in Theaters

Few modern Disney franchises have been as reliable as ‘Moana’, which makes the bumpy journey of the live-action ‘Moana’ remake all the more surprising. The original animated film became a lasting streaming favorite on Disney+, and ‘Moana 2’, which was originally developed as a Disney+ series before shifting to theaters, crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

The Thomas Kail-directed remake hit theaters on July 10, with Catherine Laga’aia making her film debut as Moana and Dwayne Johnson reprising the role of the demigod Maui. The cast also includes Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Jemaine Clement as Tamatoa, with music from Mark Mancina and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Now the film is ready for its next chapter. Disney announced that the live-action ‘Moana’ begins streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, October 21, landing 103 days after its theatrical debut.

The streaming release follows a digital launch in September and a Blu-ray and DVD release on October 6. It also comes after a disappointing summer run in which the tentpole earned about $323 million worldwide.

That total looks especially rough next to the film’s reported $250 million production budget. Back in July, Deadline’s sources projected Disney could lose between $100 million and $125 million on the movie’s first release cycle.

The remake also struggled with critics, holding a 33% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, though audiences were far kinder with an 88% audience score. Social media chatter often focused on the visual effects and Johnson’s wig, while Johnson himself responded to the harsh reviews in August.

Set sail on an adventure! #Moana is streaming on @disneyplus October 21. https://t.co/M1viuOQfj9

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) October 13, 2026

Disney has acknowledged the shortfall more than once. On the company’s August earnings call, Josh D’Amaro admitted the film didn’t meet the studio’s box office expectations.

Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden has now offered her explanation. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Screentime event in Los Angeles, she called the remake excellent but said it was hurt by arriving only about 18 months after ‘Moana 2’, suggesting audiences simply hadn’t had enough time to build up demand for another film.

The new trailer for the live-action ‘MOANA’ remake has been released. In theaters on July 10. https://t.co/0jhGLW775c

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 23, 2026

Walden also noted that ‘Moana 2’ came together under unusual circumstances, a nod to its late switch from a streaming series to a theatrical release. That shift helped place the animated sequel much closer to the live-action film than originally intended.

The explanation has sparked debate among fans and commentators. Some argued that every live-action remake is inherently close to a beloved animated original, raising the question of what the right gap between releases should actually be.

Others pointed to the reviews and creative choices rather than timing alone. Walden’s comments focused on audience demand, leaving room for the idea that other factors also played a part.

Despite the setback, Disney isn’t giving up on ‘Moana’. Walden indicated there are plans to do more with the franchise, pointing out that owning the IP lets Disney earn revenue well beyond the box office through merchandise, streaming, and other businesses.

Johnson revealed during the remake’s press tour that Disney has early plans for a third animated ‘Moana’ film, though there’s no word on a live-action follow-up. Meanwhile, the studio is pressing ahead with other remakes, including a live-action ‘Tangled’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’.

For a franchise whose original film thrived on Disney+, streaming could give the remake a chance to find the audience it missed in theaters. Disney will likely be watching closely to see how the film performs once it’s available to subscribers.

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