Moana Review (2026): Is Disney's Live -Action Remake Worth the Trip Back to Motunui?
- laurienwynne
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
Disney's live-action remake machine sails into its most personal test yet: a shot-for-shot retelling of a film most audiences saw for the first time only ten years ago, and again, animated, less than two years ago in Moana 2. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, newcomer Catherine Laga'aia takes over the title role from Auli'i Cravalho, and the reviews are... rough.
Overview
Moana (Catherine Laga'aia) answers the ocean's call and voyages beyond the reef of her home island of Motunui for the first time, teaming up with the once-mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore prosperity to her people. The story hits virtually every beat of the 2016 animated original, now performed by a live cast on location in Hawaii and Atlanta.
ShowScorer Favs
Catherine Laga'aia's Star-Making Turn
The one thing nearly every review agrees on: Laga'aia is a find. The Australian newcomer, making her feature debut, carries the film's emotional weight and handles Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs like a seasoned pro, drawing comparisons to Cravalho's original performance while still making the role her own.
“a winning turn in the title role”
— The Hollywood Reporter
Visually Stunning, Culturally Rooted
Shot on location in Hawaii, the ocean sequences and island landscapes give the film a genuine sense of place the animated version couldn't offer, and multiple reviewers praised its deeper emphasis on Polynesian identity and ancestry.
“a genuine commitment to honoring Polynesian culture”
— Moviefone
The Musical Numbers Still Land
"How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome" both translate well to live performance, and Johnson visibly commits to the physical comedy of his signature number even when critics found his overall performance lacking elsewhere.
“the best of these movies I've seen”
— Variety
ShowScorer Flops
A Nearly Shot-for-Shot Remake
The single biggest complaint across nearly every review: this isn't a reinterpretation, it's a recreation. Critics repeatedly point out that the film hits the same story beats, jokes, and even shot compositions as the 2016 original, offering little reason for its own existence beyond box office math.
“barely a new movie”
— Cosmic Book News
Dwayne Johnson Feels Checked Out
While Laga'aia is winning praise, several reviewers felt Johnson's energy as Maui has faded since the 2016 film, describing his performance as coasting rather than committed, a notable reversal from the character that once anchored the franchise.
“he is checked out as Maui”
— Rendy Reviews
A Historically Rough Rotten Tomatoes Debut
Moana opened in the low-to-mid 30s percent range on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the worst-reviewed live-action Disney remake in the studio's history, below even last year's widely panned Snow White. Reviewers cite flat, CGI-heavy visuals in the ocean sequences and the film's redundant timing, arriving barely 18 months after Moana 2, as the core issues.
The Verdict: Moana
This live-action Moana is carried almost entirely by Catherine Laga'aia, whose star-making performance and the film's genuine visual and cultural craftsmanship make it watchable, even enjoyable in stretches. But critics are largely right that it doesn't need to exist: released this close to both the original and Moana 2, it plays less like a reimagining and more like a cover version of a song you already know by heart.
Rating: 2.5/5
Is Laga'aia's performance enough to make this Moana worth a theater trip, or has Disney's remake well finally run dry? Let us know in the comments and drop your own rating below!
Sources
Rotten Tomatoes — "Moana First Reviews: Unnecessary and Faithful to a Fault, but It Has Its Charms"
The Hollywood Reporter — Moana review by David Rooney
Variety — Moana review by Owen Gleiberman
Moviefone — "Movie Review: 'Moana' (2026)"
CGMagazine — Moana (2026) Review
Forbes — Paul Tassi, "Moana's Record Rotten Tomatoes Score Should Give Disney Pause"
SlashFilm — "Moana's Rotten Tomatoes Score Ranks Among The Worst Live-Action Disney Remakes"
Cosmic Book News — "Moana Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Franchise's Lowest Ever"
Rendy Reviews — "'Moana' Review: Just Drown Me"
South China Morning Post — Moana movie review
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