Disney released the live-action remake of Moana on July 10, 2026, starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson reprising his role as Maui [1, 2, 3]. The film closely follows the original 2016 animated movie and its 2024 sequel with a nearly shot-for-shot recreation and minimal new elements [1, 3].
Early critical response was overwhelmingly negative. Reviewers widely criticized the film for its lack of creativity and poor production choices, including complaints about Johnson’s wig [1, 2, 3]. The movie debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a critics score between 32% and 39%, one of Disney’s lowest ratings for a live-action remake [1, 2, 3].
Some critics compared the remake to AI-generated content due to its sameness and lack of originality. Robbie Collins of The Telegraph called it "Disney’s awful live-action Moana [that] could have been made by a ChatGPT prompt" [2]. Deadline said it was "a veritable clone" with scenes copied line by line [1]. The Wrap bluntly remarked, "It’s the Same Film, Disney Just Wants You to Pay for It Again" [1]. A San Francisco Chronicle reviewer called it a "head-scratcher" how lifeless it felt compared to the animated original [3].
Production costs reportedly reached $250 million, with domestic opening weekend box office projections ranging from $40 million to $60 million—significantly below billion-dollar remakes like Lilo & Stitch [4, 3]. The original 2016 Moana was a major financial success, grossing nearly $900 million worldwide adjusted for inflation [2].
The remake’s release renewed questions about Disney’s strategy of closely redoing recent hits with few changes. A Girl Culture Substack writer described Moana as "most representative of the rot at the core of this artistic project" among Disney’s remakes [3]. The Daily Telegraph noted the film’s elaborate production did little to add vitality, resembling a generic video generator output [3].
The remake remains in theaters, and its box office performance will become clearer after the coming weekend. Disney faces pressure to justify the high budget amid rising skepticism about its remake choices.
