Disney Chief Executive Officer Josh D'Amaro reported that the Moana remake starring Dwayne Johnson and the Star Wars movie The Mandalorian & Grogu missed financial expectations at the box office. D'Amaro acknowledged that both films grossed less in theaters than producers had anticipated.
Together, the two feature films generated a total of $600 million worldwide, failing to break even on their production budgets. Critics and audiences gave both movies mixed reviews, describing them as optional releases that primarily appeal to existing fans.
Franchise Earnings Outside Theaters
D'Amaro noted that the weak theatrical performance did not hurt overall franchise profitability. Theme parks, toys, video games, and other Star Wars content continue to generate steady income for the company.
For Moana, Disney executives expect strong performance on the Disney+ streaming platform and in the broader home entertainment market. D'Amaro said that even when franchise movies fall short of box office targets, investments in core assets help support other divisions of the company.
