Disney's live-action ‘Vaiana’ tops box office and launches streaming rollout

Disney released the live‑action adaptation "Vaiana, la légende du bout du monde" directed by Thomas Kail, starring Catherine Laga’aia as the Polynesian heroine Vaiana and Dwayne Johnson reprising Maui. The film opened in French cinemas on 8 July 2026, immediately leading the box‑office and eventually earning more than $1 billion worldwide.

Disneyland Paris introduced a Vaiana‑themed merchandise collection to coincide with the release. The distribution window in France follows a staggered schedule: video‑on‑demand appears in November 2026, Canal+ streams the movie in January 2027, and Disney+ is slated for around March 2027. Later releases on Netflix, Prime Video and free‑to‑air TV are expected between late 2027 and 2028. Critical response has been mixed, with praise for the visual production and performances but criticism that the live‑action version adds little beyond the original animated film.

Polish reviewers echoed similar sentiments, noting the film’s strong visuals while questioning the necessity of another remake. The overall commercial success underscores Disney’s continued strategy of adapting its animated catalog into live‑action features.