The live-action remake of Moana is hitting some surprisingly rough waters at the box office

The live-action remake of Moana is hitting some surprisingly rough waters at the box office. The film brought in a softer-than-expected $4.5 million during its Thursday night previews and is currently tracking for a modest $40 million to $45 million opening weekend. For a movie that carried a massive $250 million production budget, these early numbers signal a challenging uphill battle ahead just to break even, let alone turn a profit.Industry experts point to a growing sense of franchise fatigue as a major reason for the slow start. The remake arrives closely on the heels of the animated Moana 2, which dominated theaters just a couple of years ago. That sequel turned into a historic, billion-dollar juggernaut, famously raking in a massive $225 million domestically over its five-day Thanksgiving opening weekend before crossing the $1.059 billion mark globally.Trying to replicate that magic so quickly with a live-action version appears to have been a tough sell for audiences who might still feel full from the last voyage. While die-hard fans are still checking Fandango for local showtimes and grabbing tickets, the film has a long way to go if it hopes to find its footing and recoup its massive investments.