The first full reviews for Disney's live-action Moana movie are in, and they're about as mixed as you'd expect following today's initial social media reactions.
Though some verdicts are quite positive (Variety's review is surprisingly glowing), so far, the majority of critics feel that Moana is just another in a long line of pointless Disney "reimaginings" that add nothing to the classic story.
Even so, for anyone who has accepted these live-action remakes for what they are, it sounds like there is some enjoyment to be found here.
Several reviews hail the movie as one of Disney's "better live-action remakes," and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia's performance as the titular character is universally praised.
There are currently 31 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and the movie has generated a "Rotten" score of 32%.
Have a read through some of the reviews at the links below.
"In Moana, Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, p.g.a., Beau Flynn, p.g.a., Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, p.g.a. and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, Kail and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films “Moana” and “Moana 2.” “Moana” features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina, and an original score composed by Mancina."
Moana arrives in theaters on July 10, 2026.