Dwayne The Rock Johnson in "Moana."Disney Enterprises, Inc.The live-action version of Disney’s Moana, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Catherine Lagaʻaia, is hitting choppy waters in its opening weekend at the box office.The new version of Moana comes 10 years after Disney released the original animated version of the tale. The film was a blockbuster hit, earning $248.7 million domestically and $435.6 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $684.3 million against a $150 million budget before marketing costs.Forbes‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Trash Live-Action Adaptation Of Disney HitBy Tim LammersIn addition to being nominated for Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "How Far I’ll Go," the film spawned the 2024 animated sequel, Moana 2, which made $460.4 million in North American theaters and $598.8 million internationally for a global box office take of $1.059 billion.Two years later, it appears that Moana’s box office magic has crashed ashore, at least by judging by the film’s projected opening weekend at the domestic box office. According to Variety, the new Moana’s pre-release forecast was in the $60 million to $65 million range, but the trade also noted projections as low as $40 million. Forbes‘Michael’ On Verge Of Hitting $1 Billion At Worldwide Box OfficeBy Tim LammersMORE FOR YOUOn Friday afternoon, Deadline projected that the film was indeed coming in at the lower end by projecting a $40 million to $45 million opening, with its numbers based on its projected opening day take of $17 million (including $4.5 million in Thursday preview screenings).By comparison, Moana 2, where Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho (as Moana) reprised their voice roles from the original, opened with $139.7 million from 4,200 North American theaters in its first Friday-to-Sunday frame from Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in 2024. Like the original film, Moana 2 had a production budget of $150 million before its marketing spend.The live-action Moana, per Variety, has a $250 million production budget before marketing. The film is playing in 3,875 North American venues.ForbesWhy ‘Minions & Monsters’ Streaming Release Will Likely Follow Universal’s PVOD StrategyBy Tim LammersA scene from Minions & Monsters."Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment‘Minions & Monsters’ Drops To No. 2 In Second WeekendUniversal Studios’ animated comedy Minions & Monsters, which underperformed in its five-day 4th of July weekend with $62 million ($36 million Friday to Sunday), is projected by Deadline to drop 46% in its second Friday to Sunday frame for a take of $20 million from 4,244 North American theaters.Should the projection hold, it will boost Minions & Monsters’ domestic take to $107.8 million by Sunday against its $80 million production budget before marketing.ForbesSam Raimi And Rob Tapert Talk ‘Evil Dead Burn’ And How Fresh Voices Are Behind Success Of The New FilmsBy Tim LammersWhile Moana is off to a rough start at the box office, Disney can take solace, at least, in the success of Toy Story 5, which is projected by Deadline to earn $18 million this weekend. Should the projection hold, it will boost the Disney-Pixar blockbuster’s domestic take to $400 million.The trade publication projects that box office newcomer Evil Dead Burn will make $15 million from 3,004 North American venues in its opening weekend. Produced by original Evil Dead filmmakers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert and executive produced by the classic trilogy’s star, Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead Burn, per Variety, had a $20 million production budget before marketing costs.Forbes‘Evil Dead Burn’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Are Coming In HotBy Tim LammersProjected by Deadline to finish at No. 5 is Angel Studios and Wonder Project’s Young Washington with a second weekend take of $6.3 million from 2,725 North American theaters. Should the projection hold, it will up the film’s domestic tally to $32.9 million by Sunday. According to box office tracker The Numbers, Young Washington had a production budget of $20 million before marketing costs. Note: This box office report will be updated throughout the weekend with the most current numbers as they become available. The final numbers for this weekend’s box office will be released on Monday.Forbes‘Evil Dead Burn’ End Credits Scenes: Why You Should Stay In Your SeatsBy Tim Lammers