Moana sailed to Japan this weekend. Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia headlined the Tokyo premiere of the live-action Moana remake, celebrating the film’s Japanese release as its global box office total crossed 170 million dollars.
A Warm Welcome In Tokyo
The premiere marked Laga’aia’s first ever visit to Japan, a milestone moment for the young star who plays Moana. Johnson, reprising Maui in the flesh, brought his usual wattage to the event, while TSUZUMI of the group ME:I performed a song from the film and actor Matsuya Onoe attended dressed in a yukata, according to Japanese Disney outlet Dtimes.
The Box Office Reality
The international push comes at an important moment for the film. Crossing 170 million dollars globally is meaningful progress, but it sits against a reported 250 million dollar production budget, and the remake has struggled to hold domestic audiences after a steep second weekend drop in the United States. Japan has historically been one of Disney’s strongest international markets, and a strong run there would go a long way toward improving the film’s final tally.
How Far It Goes From Here
The original animated Moana was a slow-burn phenomenon in Japan, and Disney is clearly hoping the live-action version can follow that path. With summer holidays beginning across the country, the timing of the release gives the remake its best possible shot at a second wind.
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