Disney's Live-Action Moana Remake Draws Near-Universal Negative Reviews from Critics

Disney's live-action Moana remake arrives to scathing reviews, criticized as an inferior, longer retread of a film only a decade old.

Disney's live-action remake of Moana has landed to a chorus of negative reviews, with critics largely agreeing the film adds little to justify its existence — the animated original was released just ten years ago. Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui, and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia takes the lead role, but reviewers found the film longer than its predecessor and weaker in nearly every respect. One critic described the film as having 'all the visual allure of a Febreeze advert,' singling out Johnson's wig as a particular low point. Another called it essentially the same film, padded out, with Disney's commercial motivation the clearest thing on screen. One point of consensus across the negative reviews was praise for Catherine Laga'aia's vocal performance and for the Lin-Manuel Miranda songs, which critics acknowledged still hold up. But those bright spots were not enough to redeem the overall product in reviewers' eyes. Den of Geek concluded the remake was 'best left abandoned and adrift,' while The Wrap framed it bluntly as a film audiences are being asked to pay to see again. The film is part of Disney's ongoing wave of live-action remakes of its animated library, a strategy that has attracted consistent criticism for prioritizing catalog monetization over creative risk. Moana stands out as a particularly recent target, with the original 2016 animated film still fresh in cultural memory.

Why it matters

The film's poor critical reception raises fresh questions about Disney's live-action remake strategy, particularly when applied to relatively recent animated films. Audiences and investors will be watching whether negative reviews affect box office performance.

What's next

Box office results will indicate whether critical consensus deters audiences from seeing a film they may already know well.

Key facts

• The original animated Moana was released in 2016, making it roughly 10 years old at the time of this remake
• Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as the demigod Maui from the original film
• Newcomer Catherine Laga'aia plays the lead role of Moana in the live-action version
• All three reviews were negative, with critics calling the remake longer and worse than the original
• Critics praised Catherine Laga'aia's singing and the Lin-Manuel Miranda songs as bright spots
• One reviewer compared the film's visual quality unfavorably to a Febreeze advertisement

Bias & framing notes

All three sources are critical reviews rather than news reports, so each reflects individual critical opinion rather than objective reporting. Den of Geek was the most measured, acknowledging genuine positives before delivering an overall negative verdict. The Independent was the most colorfully dismissive, leading with mockery of Johnson's wig. The Wrap framed its critique most explicitly in commercial terms, emphasizing Disney's financial motivation over artistic assessment.