Disney President Defends Live-Action Moana as ‘Excellent Film’ Blamed by ‘Unusual Circumstances

Disney president Dana Walden has publicly defended the studio’s live-action Moana, insisting it was an “excellent film” that suffered a disappointing box office run due to what she described as “unusual circumstances.” Speaking at this week’s Bloomberg Screentime event, Walden attributed the movie’s underwhelming financial performance to a crowded release calendar and awkward timing rather than any flaw in the project itself.

The comments came during a broader discussion about the challenges facing major studios in today’s competitive entertainment landscape. According to Variety, Walden framed the film’s poor showing as a casualty of an industry where success depends on aligning the right movie with audience demand at exactly the right moment.

A Timing Problem of Disney’s Own Making

Walden pointed specifically to the proximity of another Moana project in Disney’s release schedule, suggesting that it diluted interest in the live-action version. “It’s so competitive right now that you have to have… the right film at the right time, with audiences feeling a certain degree of demand,” she said.

“I would say our live-action Moana, which is excellent, I think it was hurt by the proximity to our second animated version of Moana, which came together under unusual circumstances, but premiered about 18 months before this one.”

Dana Walden, Disney President

The “unusual circumstances” Walden referenced relate to Disney’s last-minute decision to pivot Moana’s poor performance trajectory. The sequel was originally developed as a Disney+ streaming series before being reworked into a theatrical release, resulting in an awkward placement just a year and a half ahead of the long-in-development live-action film.

“Perhaps there was not enough time to create a lot of pent-up demand for another film,” Walden concluded. While many observers agree that the scheduling was indeed clumsy, critics note that this is entirely a self-inflicted wound by Disney—a studio that could have easily staggered its releases to maximize audience appetite.

Critics and Audiences Disagree on Quality

Beyond the timing debate stands the more contentious issue of the film’s actual quality. While Walden is unlikely to criticize her own project, the critical consensus tells a very different story. The live-action Moana currently holds just a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 4.8 out of 10.

The film also faced significant backlash before its release, as trailers drew audience criticism over the movie’s CGI backgrounds and sparked a slew of memes over Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s luscious wig. Those early reactions foreshadowed the lukewarm reception that ultimately followed.

The critical response was echoed by our own live-action Moana review, where IGN awarded the film a 6/10. “Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui opposite newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in this frame-by-frame retelling of the Disney animated musical that doesn’t do enough to justify being made,” the reviewer wrote, capturing the prevailing sentiment that the project added little beyond nostalgia.

Looking Ahead

Despite the mixed reception and commercial disappointment, Disney shows no signs of abandoning the franchise. Following the breakout success of Moana, which became a massive box office hit, the studio has confirmed that the Moana franchise will continue with a third animated film. However, there is currently no word on whether a live-action sequel would ever be produced to recoup losses or rebuild audience trust.

As Disney navigates an increasingly difficult era for big-budget remakes and sequels, Walden’s defense of the film may offer little comfort to investors watching studios grapple with diminishing returns from familiar intellectual property. For now, fans can take some solace in the fact that the animated islanders are likely to return—while the live-action version remains a cautionary tale about timing, quality, and audience fatigue.