‘Moana’ underwhelms with $95m debut at global box office; ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ hit $800m combined

Worldwide box office: July 10-12

Credit: Rentrak. All figures are estimates

‘Moana’ sets sail into crowded market

There have been too many family films released too near the start of summer – that could be the takeaway after Disney’s live-action Moana launched with an estimated $95.0m worldwide, hot on the heels of a disappointing performance from Universal/Illumination’s Minions & Monsters. Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 remains highly competitive, and the family trio are the weekend’s top three films globally from US studios.

Moana began with an estimated $43.0m in North America, below expectations, plus $52.0m across international markets.

For comparison, in May last year, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch began with $304m worldwide, not counting the Memorial Day Monday holiday in the US.

Two months earlier, Disney’s Snow White launched with a sleepy $87m. Disney will be disappointed to see Moana begin with numbers barely better than flop Snow White, and far below Lilo & Stitch – especially given Moana’s reported $250m production budget.

On the brighter side, the whole summer holiday is ahead of Moana in most key markets, and audience scores for the film in North America are encouraging.

Among international markets, Australia leads with an estimated $5.3m for Moana, just ahead of France ($5.2m). South Korea ($3.8m) is ahead of UK/Ireland ($3.7m), with Germany and Mexico tied on $3.4m. Spain ($3.1m) and Brazil ($2.7m) are not far behind. Future key openings include Japan (July 31) and Italy (August 19).

The original 2016 Moana animation is the most-watched film of all time on Disney+, with more than 1.5bn hours of streams. Moana and Moana 2 were the most-streamed films on Disney+ last year. Songs from Moana have collectively achieved more than 26bn streams, led by ‘How Far I’ll Go’ with 4.8bn.

It is for these reasons that the $95m global launch for the new film may leave Disney executives scratching their heads. However, with Moana 2 released November 2024, and thus in cinemas less than two years ago, has Disney simply over-served the market? Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as demigod Maui, and this may have added to a feeling of over-familiarity.

The animated Moana reached $643m in cinemas worldwide over its lifetime, and sequel Moana 2 built on the original film’s consistent success on Disney+, grossing $1.06bn. The new Moana – which is directed by Thomas Kail (Hamilton stage musical) – has a long, long way to go to match these numbers.

‘Minions & Monsters’ nears $300m as ‘Toy Story 5’ closes in on $900m

Universal/Illumination’s Minions & Monsters has achieved a decent hold in its second weekend of play, dropping 45% in North America and 44% in international holdover markets. Considering the mischief-making adventure faced fresh competition from Moana, Universal executives may take the numbers as a win.

Estimated weekend numbers are $20.5m in North America and $39.6m across international markets, combining for $60.1m worldwide. Cumulatively, the numbers are $108.3m in North America, $171.8m for international, and $280.0m worldwide.

Across international markets, China continues to lead, with $32.4m so far, ahead of France ($13.3m), Australia ($11.9m), Germany ($10.5m), Mexico ($10.2m) and UK/Ireland ($9.9m). Key markets South Korea (July 15) and Japan (August 7) have yet to open.

Minions & Monsters was beaten at the weekend by Toy Story 5, now in its fourth week of global play. The Pixar sequel grossed an estimated $63.8m, powered by a strong $45.3m across international markets. The film fell 39% in North America and 35% for international.

Cumulative totals for Toy Story 5 are $403.8m in North America, $475.3m for international, and $879.1m worldwide. The film will pass $900m this week

Minions & Monsters has a long way to go to catch the worldwide totals of the first two Minions films ($1.16bn and $940.5m), or the most recent entry in the wider franchise, 2024’s Despicable Me 4 ($972m).

Toy Story 5 looks much better placed to achieve a franchise high. It’s chasing the $1.07bn that Toy Story 3 reached globally in 2010, and Toy Story 4’s $1.08bn achieved in 2019. These numbers are not adjusted for inflation.

‘Michael’ is first $1bn-grossing biopic

Lionsgate (North America) and Universal (international) are celebrating Antoine Fuqua’s Michael passing the $1bn worldwide box office milestone – the first biopic, music-themed or otherwise, to achieve the feat. Total box office to date is $1.001bn.

The two studios are working with a few local distributors in select international markets – for example Kino Films in Kapan, where Michael was released in mid-June, and where it remains in active play ($35.8m to date there).

‘Evil Dead Burn’ makes $27m start – ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ remain formidable

Evil Dead Burn, released by Warner Bros in North America and Sony Pictures International in most markets elsewhere, has opened with an estimated $27.0m.

That compares with a $40.3m worldwide debut for Evil Dead Rise in May 2023.

Evil Dead Burn is the sixth film in the franchise that began with Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead in 1981.

Among international markets, India leads with an estimated $1.5m for Evil Dead Burn, ahead of UK via Studiocanal ($1.2m), Mexico ($1.1m) and France via Metropolitan ($850,000). Key markets yet to release include Spain, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.

Evil Dead Burn is chasing the $147.1m achieved globally by Evil Dead Rise.

The weekend saw Universal/Focus Features’ Obsession and A24’s Backrooms – this year’s two-headed YouTube creator horror phenomenon – achieve combined box office of $800m. Obsession leads with $426.7m, ahead of Backrooms with $375.7m. The sustained buoyancy of the two films may have softened the launch for Evil Dead Burn – with three horror titles all in the current worldwide box office top 10 chart.

‘Kung Fu Soccer’ makes strong start in China

There are two new titles from the most populous Asian nations landing inside the worldwide weekend top 10 chart: China’s Kung Fu Soccer in second place and India’s Dhamaal 4 in seventh.

Steven Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer opened with a strong estimated $68.5m in China. The sports comedy follows the journey of a fictional Chinese women’s soccer team.

Hong Kong-born Chow achieved international recognition in 2001 with Shaolin Soccer and in 2004 with Kung Fu Hustle.

Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal 4 has opened with an estimated $9.2m across 18 markets, including $467,000 in North America. India is the key market, where box office is reported locally as 77.5 crore rupees ($8.1m). 

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