Disney is broadening how it describes franchise performance after “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” and the live-action “Moana” fell short of its theatrical expectations. The company is emphasizing how both releases supported streaming, merchandise, gaming, and theme park activity, while their box office totals remain part of the record.
Key Takeaways
- Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro acknowledged the films’ weaker-than-expected theatrical performance on August 5, 2026.
- “The Mandalorian and Grogu” had earned about $345.2 million worldwide by early August.
- The live-action “Moana” had reached about $263.8 million worldwide.
- Disney linked the “Star Wars” release to retail, gaming, and theme park activity.
- The company expects “Moana” to attract additional viewing on Disney+.
Disney placed the theatrical results of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and “Moana” within a wider franchise strategy during its fiscal third-quarter earnings discussion on August 5.
Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro said the films did not meet the company’s box office expectations. He then pointed to activity generated elsewhere, including consumer products, streaming, games, and theme parks.
That acknowledgment separates two measures. A film can fall below an internal theatrical target while still directing attention toward products and experiences connected to the same characters.
The reported totals explain the scrutiny. “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which returned “Star Wars” to theaters for the first time since 2019, had earned about $345.2 million worldwide by August 6. Approximately $177.7 million came from the United States and Canada.
The live-action “Moana” had generated about $263.8 million worldwide, including $117.2 million domestically. It opened with $43.1 million in North America and carried a reported production budget of $250 million.
Those totals do not establish final profitability. Studios share theatrical revenue with exhibitors, while marketing and later distribution also affect the broader financial result. The figures do show a wide gap between these releases and Disney’s strongest recent franchise performance.
Star Wars and Moana Follow Different Paths
Disney linked “The Mandalorian and Grogu” to activity across several businesses. D’Amaro said the movie supported “Star Wars” retail sales, drew visitors to updated Millennium Falcon attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and generated gaming engagement.
The release tested whether a property built through streaming could move into theaters and then circulate through Disney’s other platforms. Din Djarin and Grogu moved from Disney+ to cinemas, making the theatrical Star Wars return a closely watched transition.
Its box office total suggests broad recognition of Grogu did not automatically produce the theatrical scale associated with several earlier “Star Wars” films. Disney’s retail, gaming, and park activity supplies another measurement, although the company has not assigned one public financial value to those combined effects.
“Moana” presents a different challenge. The live-action adaptation arrived 19 months after “Moana 2,” which earned more than $1 billion worldwide. It also revisited an animated film released in 2016 that has remained prominent on Disney+.
Disney is therefore placing greater emphasis on the remake’s performance after its theatrical run. D’Amaro said the company expects the live-action film to perform strongly on Disney+, supported by interest in the animated original.
“The appeal of our IP across multiple consumer touchpoints is central to our strategy, and Disney+ is the digital centerpiece for that,” D’Amaro said.
The statement positions Disney+ as more than a later home for theatrical releases. The platform keeps earlier films accessible and gives Disney another way to measure how long viewers remain engaged with a franchise.
Disney’s Wider Franchise Test
“Toy Story 5” provided the clearest contrast during Disney’s earnings discussion. The Pixar sequel surpassed $1 billion worldwide and, according to the company, supported merchandise sales, streaming of earlier installments, and activity connected to physical experiences.
Disney said the five “Toy Story” films had collectively generated more than $4 billion at the global box office and more than 2 billion hours of Disney+ viewing. The company also said the franchise produces more than $1 billion in annual global retail sales across retailers.
The Toy Story 5 premiere came before a release that more closely reflected Disney’s preferred model. A major theatrical result was followed by activity across other parts of the franchise.
Disney reported quarterly revenue of $25.2 billion, up 7 percent from the previous year. Revenue in its Experiences division rose 10 percent, while global theme park attendance increased 4 percent and domestic attendance rose 3 percent.
Those results allowed Disney to distinguish between films that delivered large cinema totals and titles whose value may depend more heavily on later viewing and related activity. The approach does not replace the box office. It adds a second measure focused on what a release produces after ticket sales slow.
For Disney, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and “Moana” show both the reach and the limits of an interconnected franchise system. The company can move attention across streaming, retail, games, and attractions, but weaker theatrical results remain visible beside those gains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did Disney Say the Two Films Missed Expectations?
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and the live-action “Moana” did not meet the company’s box office expectations. Disney did not identify the precise theatrical targets for either film in its published earnings commentary.
How Much Did “The Mandalorian and Grogu” Earn?
The film had earned about $345.2 million worldwide by August 6, 2026. Approximately $177.7 million came from the United States and Canada.
How Much Did the Live-Action “Moana” Earn?
The live-action “Moana” had reached about $263.8 million worldwide, including $117.2 million domestically. Its North American opening weekend totaled about $43.1 million.
How Is Disney Measuring Performance Beyond Theaters?
Disney is also examining streaming, retail sales, gaming engagement, and theme park activity connected to its films. The company cited those areas when discussing the continuing effects of the “Star Wars” release and its expectations for “Moana” on Disney+.
Why Is “Toy Story 5” Part of the Comparison?
“Toy Story 5” crossed $1 billion worldwide and supported activity in merchandise, streaming, and physical experiences, according to Disney. It provides a clearer example of a film succeeding in theaters before extending attention across the company’s wider network.
