Moana reviews have arrived, and Disney’s latest live-action remake has sparked one of the studio’s most unified critical reactions in recent years. The criticism isn’t centered on poor performances, weak production values, or technical shortcomings. Instead, reviewers are asking a far more fundamental question: why remake one of Disney’s most beloved modern animated classics only a decade after its release? Directed by Thomas Kail and starring newcomer Catherine Laga’aia alongside Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, Moana arrives with all the ingredients of a blockbuster spectacle. Yet, while critics praise its craftsmanship and its leading actress, many believe the remake rarely justifies its own existence beyond faithfully recreating a film audiences can still easily revisit.
Released in theaters on July 10, the live-action adaptation follows the same journey that made the 2016 animated original a global phenomenon. Moana, the spirited daughter of a Polynesian chief, embarks on a dangerous voyage across the Pacific after her island begins to suffer from a mysterious curse. Guided by the ocean itself, she reluctantly teams up with the demigod Maui to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti, confronting mythical creatures, ancient legends, and her own fears along the way. While the remake preserves the original story almost beat for beat, it also expands several emotional moments and reimagines the world through live-action filmmaking, placing greater emphasis on practical locations, elaborate production design, and Polynesian cultural authenticity.
The most common criticism across reviews is that Disney has produced one of its most unnecessary live-action remakes yet. William Bibbiani of TheWrap argues that the film’s biggest problem isn’t execution but purpose, memorably observing that “the only time the live-action Moana comes alive is when it’s animated.” Alison Willmore of Vulture similarly questions Disney’s continued dependence on remaking relatively recent animated classics, while Tim Grierson of Screen Daily argues that these glossy recreations often suppress the very charm that made the originals memorable. Tyler Taing of DiscussingFilm goes even further, describing the film as a remake that lacks the heart and soul of its animated predecessor. Across these reviews, the recurring argument is remarkably consistent: the film is competently made but creatively unnecessary.
That criticism extends into the film’s storytelling. Several critics argue that Moana mistakes faithfulness for creativity, recreating memorable scenes with impressive accuracy while rarely offering fresh ideas or meaningful reinterpretation. Peter Debruge of Variety admires the production’s craftsmanship but suggests the adaptation remains almost too faithful to the source material. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter reaches a similar conclusion, noting that while the emotional foundations of the original remain intact, the remake seldom surprises viewers already familiar with the animated film. Wilson Chapman of IndieWire also points to the film’s “ruthless fidelity,” arguing that scene-by-scene recreation ultimately limits its ability to establish a distinct identity of its own.
If critics agree on one aspect without hesitation, it is Catherine Laga’aia’s performance as Moana. Across Deadline, RogerEbert.com, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and numerous Rotten Tomatoes reviews, the newcomer is widely regarded as the film’s greatest strength. Reviewers praise her sincerity, warmth, confidence, and emotional presence, with many suggesting she carries the remake through sheer charisma. Even critics who were otherwise disappointed by the adaptation consistently highlight Laga’aia as a genuine discovery capable of honoring the beloved character while making the role feel authentically her own. Several reviewers believe her performance alone prevents the remake from feeling entirely hollow.
The response to Dwayne Johnson’s return as Maui is considerably more divided. While many critics acknowledge that Johnson retains his natural charisma and comfortable chemistry with Laga’aia, several argue that translating Maui from expressive animation into live action inevitably strips away much of the larger-than-life personality that made the character unforgettable. Screen Daily suggests Johnson feels noticeably less energetic this time around, while other reviewers argue the remake never fully captures the exuberance, comic timing, or visual spectacle of the animated performance. Rather than overshadowing the film, Johnson often functions as dependable support to Laga’aia’s emerging star turn.
Where the remake struggles most, according to critics, is in recapturing the emotional spirit of the original. Reviewers repeatedly describe the live-action adaptation as visually polished but emotionally diminished, suggesting that its meticulous recreation of familiar moments cannot replicate the sense of wonder, warmth, and joy that defined the 2016 film. DiscussingFilm argues the remake loses the original’s heart, while Screen Daily believes the adaptation suppresses much of its predecessor’s natural charm. Collider similarly concludes that everything the remake accomplishes successfully was already executed more effectively by the animated version. Throughout the review landscape, words such as “heart,” “soul,” “magic,” “wonder,” and “spirit” appear repeatedly, highlighting the emotional gap many critics felt between the two films.
The conversation also extends beyond Moana itself to Disney’s broader live-action strategy. Several reviewers view the film as another example of the studio relying on nostalgia rather than creative reinvention. Vulture argues that Disney continues stretching familiar material to its breaking point, while Rolling Stone describes the remake as another case of creative déjà vu. Other critics characterize it as a corporate exercise more interested in preserving intellectual property than discovering new artistic possibilities. Rather than evaluating Moana in isolation, many reviews use it as evidence that Disney’s remake formula may finally be reaching a point of diminishing creative returns.
Even so, critics rarely dismiss the film’s technical achievements. Deadline praises Thomas Kail’s confident direction and the production’s large-scale theatrical presentation, while The Hollywood Reporter highlights the lush cinematography, detailed costume design, and respectful incorporation of Polynesian culture. Reviewers also commend the practical locations, musical staging, and overall production values, acknowledging that Disney has once again delivered an expensive, visually handsome blockbuster. The criticism, therefore, isn’t that Moana is poorly made—it’s that the impressive craftsmanship rarely translates into fresh storytelling.
Disney’s strongest live-action remakes succeed because they reinterpret familiar stories through a new creative lens. Moana rarely attempts that. Instead, it follows the animated original with remarkable precision, leaving critics to wonder whether technical excellence alone can justify revisiting a story that remains both beloved and readily accessible. Catherine Laga’aia announces herself as a major new talent, and the production consistently reflects Disney’s enormous resources, but the overwhelming critical consensus is that faithfulness has come at the expense of imagination. Rather than charting a bold new course across the ocean, Moana spends most of its journey sailing waters audiences already know by heart.
Film Details: Moana
Director: Thomas Kail
Writer: Dana Ledoux Miller
Cast: Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams
Genre: Family, Adventure, Musical, Fantasy
Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes
Release Date: July 10, 2026
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