Disney’s live-action Moana may have claimed the top spot worldwide; however, its opening weekend tells a more measured story than many expected.
The film debuted with US$95.1 million worldwide, including US$43.1 million domestically and US$52 million from international markets. While those numbers were enough to top the global chart, they fell short of the blockbuster launch typically associated with Disney’s live-action remakes.
According to Deadline, the film’s performance may have been affected by its proximity to the release of Moana 2, which arrived less than two years ago. The report noted that the shorter gap between releases may have reduced the sense of anticipation that often drives major box office performances.
Despite the softer-than-expected debut, Moana still led non-local releases across major markets, including Australia, France, South Korea, the UK, Germany and Spain. The film also performed strongly across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The weekend’s biggest surprise came from China, where Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer opened with US$73.6 million in just two days. The female-led sports comedy dominated the Chinese box office, earning roughly nine times more than its closest competitor and highlighting Chow’s continued popularity among local audiences.
Elsewhere, Toy Story 5 continued its strong run with US$64.3 million globally, bringing its worldwide total to US$879.5 million after four weeks. The Pixar sequel remains one of the year’s top-performing films, supported by strong results in Japan, Latin America and several other international markets.
Universal’s Minions & Monsters added another US$61 million worldwide in its third weekend, while horror release Evil Dead Burn opened with US$27 million globally, reflecting continued interest in the genre.
The latest global rankings highlight a broader trend: family films continue to dominate international box offices, but regional hits are also proving they can compete on a global scale.
While Moana claimed the No. 1 spot, Kung Fu Soccer stood out as the weekend’s biggest success, showing how local films can draw large audiences and deliver major box office results.
