Disney Admits Live-Action Moana and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ‘Underperformed’, But Says The Movies Still Helped Shift Plenty of Merchandise
Disney has acknowledged that both its live-action Moana and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu underperformed at the theatrical box office, according to the company’s latest financial results. Moana earned $263 million globally against a production budget of $250 million, making it one of Disney’s most disappointing live-action adaptations in recent years.
Despite the weak box office performance, Disney argued that both films should not be judged solely on ticket sales. The company stated that merchandise sales generated from these properties helped offset the theatrical revenue shortfall, allowing the films to contribute meaningfully to Disney’s overall financial performance through ancillary revenue streams.
This acknowledgment reflects a broader shift in how major studios evaluate film success, moving beyond traditional box office metrics to include merchandise, licensing, streaming rights, and other commercial opportunities. For Disney, these films served as vehicles to promote its broader entertainment ecosystem, even if their theatrical runs fell short of expectations.