The animated adventure film "Moana" topped the US box office for the week of July 10–12, grossing $43 million. In Saudi Arabia, the film ranked fifth among the highest-grossing titles, earning over 2 million riyals and selling more than 35,000 tickets.

The film is a live-action reimagining of the successful animated version released by Disney about a decade ago.

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The film presents a live-action version of the 2016 Disney animated film, maintaining the main storyline while presenting it through real-world locations, visual effects, and live musical performances.

Film story

The story returns to ancient Polynesia, where a dangerous curse related to Maui reaches an island ruled by a reckless chief, and his stubborn daughter finds herself heeding a mysterious call from the ocean that sets her on an adventurous journey. The film follows Moana, a brave 16-year-old girl and the daughter of the chief of Motunui Island, who has felt a special connection to the ocean since childhood, despite her father's constant warnings against venturing beyond the island's reef.

Moana embarks on a journey into the unknown to fix what has gone wrong, in a tale that blends myth, identity, courage, and self-discovery.

Film cast

The film is directed by Thomas Kail, with a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, starring Dwayne Johnson, Frankie Adams, Catherine Laga'aia, Rena Owen, and John Tui. The work re-presents the world of Moana in a live-action format based on adventure and visual spectacle, while preserving the original spirit of the story that achieved widespread success in its animated version.

With these results, the film confirms its popularity among audiences in global and Arab markets. This live-action version is part of Disney's strategy to revive its classics in a contemporary style, raising questions about the future of animated films. The film also reintroduces beloved characters performed by new actors, most notably Dwayne Johnson as Maui.