Dwayne Johnson is refusing to let the tepid critical reception to Disney's live-action "Moana" remake dampen his spirits, brushing off the negative reviews as an inevitable part of show business au.variety.com . In a candid interview with People, the muscled thespian reflected on the film's rocky rollout with a veteran's equanimity au.variety.com .

"Our first two reviews came out … They were amazing. I was like, 'Wow.' [Then] it went another way, as sometimes happens. That's just the way it goes because we're in this business," Johnson said, adding that he and his wife discussed the backlash "at the kitchen island late at night when the babies are asleep" au.variety.com . The live-action "Moana" currently holds a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 42% on Metacritic, though Variety's own Owen Gleiberman offered a kinder take, writing that the remake "can't, and shouldn't, replace the original — but it earns a place alongside it" au.variety.com .

"If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem," Johnson said, expressing pride that the film brought joy to audiences despite the lack of critical adulation au.variety.com .

A Costly Theatrical venture

The artistic shrug comes amid sobering financial realities. During Disney's Aug. 5 earnings call, new CEO Josh D'Amaro conceded that "Moana" underperformed at the box office, though he insisted that investments in core properties "fuel other parts of our company" even when franchise films miss their targets au.variety.com . Per Variety's reporting, the remake could lose at least $100 million during its theatrical run — a stark reminder of the precarious economics of the live-action remake boom au.variety.com .

For Johnson, the episode is a lesson in perspective rather than a cause for despair. The challenge, he noted, was to "remember what's going to be beyond this opening weekend" and to tune out the immediate noise — a stoic outlook honed over decades in the industry au.variety.com . Follow the latest film news via Variety and Variety on X.

Related Topics:

#Box Office#Film Reviews#Disney+#Movies & TV#Dwayne Johnson#Moana#Live-Action Remake
benjamin
benjaminStaff Writer

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