Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro addresses disappointing box office performance for two recent releases during the company’s latest earnings call. He says that “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” and the live-action “Moana” remake both underperform compared with expectations for the summer release period. According to D’Amaro, however, the projects are not viewed internally as total failures for the broader Disney business.
D’Amaro argues that the films still deliver value beyond theatrical ticket sales. He says they help generate merchandise demand and can draw audiences to other parts of the company, including theme parks. While he acknowledges the box office shortfalls, he frames the impact as distributed across Disney’s ecosystem rather than limited to the films’ theatrical runs.
The reporting also highlights that Disney leadership has weighed in publicly on the performance results, treating both titles as notable examples of how some brand-driven releases can fail to meet box office targets despite continued audience engagement in other formats.
