Although the live-action remake of Moana has not quite been able to catch a wave at the box office, Dwayne Johnson says he is proud of what the team created and unfazed by its critical reception.
The Disney film’s negative reviews, which currently sit at 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, are “just the way it goes” in the entertainment industry, Johnson said, adding that what “really mattered” to him was that “the culture really stood up” in the Polynesian-inspired tale.
“Our first two reviews came out. I’ll never forget it… They were amazing. I was like, wow,” he said, noting the reviews then “went another way, as sometimes happens.”
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“That’s just the way it goes because we’re in this business,” added Johnson.
A decade after he first voiced the demigod Maui in Disney’s animated film Moana, Johnson returned to the role for the Thomas Kail-helmed live-action adaptation, which sought to bring the world of Motunui and its Pacific Islander influences into a more grounded setting.
“The challenge was, okay, let’s remember, though, what’s going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let’s remember what’s happening right now and the noise that’s happening right now,” said Johnson. “If you love it, great. If you don’t, no problem.”
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Following Moana’s July 10 premiere, the movie has gone on to make 266 million USD at the global box office. The numbers have fallen short of Disney’s usual franchise benchmarks, prompting comments from the studio’s leadership.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro addressed the low turnout in a recent letter to shareholders, grouping the film with another underperforming franchise entry, The Mandalorian and Grogu.
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“Even when our franchise films don’t meet our box office expectations, as with The Mandalorian and Grogu and the live-action Moana, our investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company,” said D’Amaro, noting that Moana is “expected to be a strong title on Disney+, building on the success of the original film, which is one of the most streamed movies of all time.”
