Christopher Nolan and Disney are heading into one of the summer's biggest theatrical matchups, but the two studios are entering the weekend from very different positions.
While Universal prepares for what analysts expect to be a major launch for The Odyssey (2026), Disney's live-action Moana (2026) is attempting to stabilize after an opening weekend that fell well below the performance of its animated counterpart.
The Odds Are Stacked Against Disney
Moana collected around $43 million during its first three domestic days before finishing the extended holiday opening with $47.5 million. Those figures are a difficult starting point for a film reportedly costing between $200 million and $250 million to produce before promotional expenses.
The contrast with Moana 2 is especially stark. Released in 2024, the animated sequel earned $389 million globally in its first five days and eventually crossed the $1 billion milestone worldwide.
The remake's reception has also been challenging. Rotten Tomatoes critics awarded the film a 36% score, placing it below Snow White (2025), which holds 39%, and giving Moana the lowest critics' rating among Disney's live-action remakes.
Snow White itself endured months of public scrutiny surrounding casting decisions and creative changes before struggling commercially, making Moana‘s early performance another difficult chapter for Disney's remake initiative.
Disney reportedly anticipated a second-weekend decline of approximately 55%, a result that would have placed domestic earnings around $20 million. Instead, that target now arrives alongside one of the year's most anticipated theatrical releases.
The Odyssey Takes Center Stage
Christopher Nolan returns to theaters this week with The Odyssey, his first feature since 2023's Oppenheimer captured Best Picture at the Academy Awards. According to Deadline, the Universal release is projected to open between $85 million and $100 million domestically while targeting over $200 million worldwide across 73 markets and roughly 22,700 screens.
The film has been marketed as a theatrical spectacle, particularly for IMAX audiences. Premium 70MM IMAX engagements reportedly sold out more than twelve months before release at locations including BFI IMAX London, the London Science Museum, Melbourne Museum IMAX, and Prague's Oskar IMAX Plaza.
The adaptation of Homer's epic also features an extensive cast led by Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, and Lupita Nyong'o.
Industry tracking suggested advance ticket sales between $30 million and $40 million before opening, comparable with titles such as Wicked: For Good (2025) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), although those figures include early weekday performances.
If Nolan's previous releases are any indication, Universal could be looking beyond a strong opening weekend. Oppenheimer ultimately reached $330 million domestically after launching with $82.4 million, while both Dunkirk and Inception similarly demonstrated lengthy theatrical runs.
Remake Strategy Faces Renewed Debate
One commenter responded to the opening weekend by writing, “No one asked for or wanted this movie.” Another argued, “Let this finally be the end of the live-action remake,” encouraging Disney to focus resources on original animated productions.
Supporters have pointed to the enduring popularity of the animated Moana films, with one fan describing the franchise as a “Disney+ goldmine” and expressing confidence that the remake could find a larger audience over time.
Disney's Development Slate Remains Unchanged
Despite the mixed reception for both Snow White and Moana, Disney continues moving forward with additional live-action adaptations.
Among them is Tangled (2010), directed by Michael Gracey, best known for The Greatest Showman (2017). The remake stars Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim, Kathryn Hahn, and Diego Luna and is reportedly targeting a 2028 release. The production has already generated online discussion surrounding its casting, and its eventual performance may become another measure of audience interest in Disney's long-running remake strategy.
Release timing may also have worked against Moana. Earlier remakes revisited animated classics decades after their original debuts, allowing nostalgia to develop naturally. Moana, by contrast, followed the billion-dollar success of Moana 2 by little more than a year, asking audiences to return to the same story again just as Christopher Nolan's latest epic arrived in theaters.
Whether Moana rebounds or continues to decline, its second weekend could become an important moment for Disney's remake strategy, offering another indication of how audiences now view live-action reinterpretations of the studio's animated catalog.
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