Dwayne Johnson Defends $264 Million Moana Remake as Critics Give It 31%
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 8
Dwayne Johnson Defends $264 Million Moana Remake as Critics Give It 31%
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 8
Summary
Johnson said Disney’s live-action "Moana" opened with two strong reviews before sentiment "went another way," brushing off the critical slide as part of the business.
The remake has a 31% Rotten Tomatoes critics score versus an 88% audience score, underscoring the gap Johnson pointed to when discussing the backlash.
Box office also lagged: the film has grossed $264 million worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget after opening in theaters last month.
Johnson said his focus shifted beyond opening-weekend "noise" to the film’s cultural impact, saying Samoan and Polynesian children could finally see themselves represented on a big screen.
Despite high audience praise, Disney's live-action Moana bombed financially. Is Hollywood's obsession with recycling recent hits finally destroying its box office?
With a massive budget and brutal critic scores, does the failure of this highly anticipated remake signal the end of Johnson's box office invincibility?