AceShowbiz - The live-action adaptation of Moana started its preview screenings at 2 p.m. on July 10, 2026, Superherohype reports, drawing $4.5 million in box office revenue from Thursday night showings. This figure places it ahead of Snow White’s $3.5 million preview total but still falls short of The Little Mermaid’s more robust $10.3 million take.

Aol also noted that the film’s production budget was estimated at $250 million. Despite the early box office interest, the movie holds a 36% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which ranks as the second-lowest among Disney’s slate of live-action remakes. Disney had initially projected Moana to open with $60 million for its first weekend, but lowered expectations to approximately $40 million following the early critical response. The live-action version closely mirrors the original animated story with few alterations, a factor some critics cited as contributing to its lukewarm reception.

Moana originally debuted as an animated feature in 2016 from Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The story features Auli'i Cravalho as the titular heroine, alongside voice performances by The Rock, Alan Tudyk, and Nicole Scherzinger. AceShowbiz has covered the development of this live-action remake extensively, including casting updates and discussions about the creative choices made during production.

This early preview performance matters because it sets the tone for Moana’s commercial trajectory amid a crowded summer season. While it outperformed some earlier Disney live-action reboots in previews, the combination of a high production budget and mixed critical reception could complicate its profitability. The film’s box office results will be closely watched as it competes with other major releases, including DC’s Supergirl, which saw comparatively stronger preview earnings despite also facing critical challenges.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Superherohype.