Moana’s stars took Tokyo. Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia headlined a premiere event for the live-action Moana remake on Monday, July 20, Japan’s Marine Day holiday, ahead of the film’s July 31 release in Japanese theaters, as its global box office total crossed 170 million dollars.
A Warm Welcome In Tokyo
The event, which included a blue carpet at Yebisu Garden Place and a premiere screening at Toho Cinemas Hibiya, 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 celebration. TSUZUMI of the group ME:I, who voices Moana in the Japanese dub, opened the event with a performance of “How Far I’ll Go,” while Matsuya Onoe, the Japanese voice of Maui, led a taiko drum performance and 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 the film opening in Japan on July 31, just as summer holidays begin across the country, the remake will get its best possible shot at a second wind.
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