Disney's live-action remake of Moana debuted with $43 million domestically and $52 million overseas for a global total of $95 million.
The film cost $250 million to produce before marketing expenses. Analysts project losses between $100 million and $125 million even if it reaches $250 million globally.
Competition from Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters contributed to the soft start. Moana 2 had grossed over $1 billion less than two years earlier.
Audiences gave the film an A- CinemaScore and a 90 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Disney executives pointed to strong word of mouth and the female audience skew as reasons for optimism in coming weeks.
The release came less than two years after the animated sequel and during a crowded summer family film slate. Top international markets included Australia at $5.3 million and France at $5.2 million while China generated only $1.2 million.
