Moana's Box Office Trouble Has Fans in a Chokehold as Toy Story 5 Runs Away

The summer box office was supposed to be Disney's playground, but a clear king has emerged—and it's not the one everyone expected. Fans are losing it over the stark contrast between Toy Story 5's global domination and Moana's struggle to find its footing.

The Numbers Don't Lie

The numbers are brutal. One user laid it out plainly: "Es un éxito de Disney vs. un fracaso de Disney en la taquilla argentina: Cifras de jueves y viernes: Puesto 1: TOY STORY 5: 223.763 entradas en 451 salas Puesto 3: MOANA: 62.877 entradas en 398 salas En su cuarta semana TOY STORY 5 cuadriplica."

The message is clear: Toy Story 5 is selling nearly four times as many tickets in its fourth week. That's not a gap—it's a canyon. And social media had thoughts—a lot of them.

The Scheduling Disaster

For many, the problem starts with the calendar. Disney sent Moana into a crowded battlefield, and one fan didn't hold back: "Supergirl vs Toy Story 5, The Minions, 4th July and next weekend the live action Moana (could maybe throw the World Cup in there as well). Has to go down as the most suicidal scheduling I've ever seen. What were they thinking?"

The sentiment is that Moana was set up for a tough fight against a Pixar juggernaut, a superhero blockbuster, a holiday weekend, and global sporting events. Even a beloved character like Moana was doomed from the start.

The Oscar Showdown Nobody Saw Coming

But while the box office numbers cool, a new rivalry is heating up: the Oscars. Best Original Song could be a showdown. Another viewer weighed in: "Taylor Swift Toy Story 5 Song vs. Miranda’s Moana Oscar Showdown The Taylor Swift Toy Story 5 song has ignited an early Oscar race. Swift's 'I Knew It, I Knew You' and Lin-Manuel Miranda's Moana anthem 'Along the Way' are both Best Original Song front-runners."

This angle flips the script. Even if Moana can't catch Toy Story 5 in earnings, it could still challenge it on Hollywood's biggest night—a battle between Swift and Miranda.

The Remake Fatigue Factor

Ultimately, the real issue might be that nobody asked for another live-action retread. One user connected the dots: "That said, the Lilo and Stitch first reviews were not great, either, 'faithful' could very well be enough to get families in, but IDK, a meh-looking Moana vs. Toy Story 5 is going to Toy Story 5." And that phrase "a meh-looking Moana" gets to the heart of the matter. The discourse isn't cooling off any time soon, and one thing is certain: nobody is done talking about this.