Disney’s ‘Moana’ Remake Gets a Rough Start on Rotten Tomatoes as Score Is Revealed

Disney’s latest live-action remake is off to a difficult start with critics.The new movie is a live-action version of Disney’s 2016 animated hit. It stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, while Dwayne Johnson returns to play Maui after voicing the character in both animated films.

Directed by Thomas Kail, the movie follows the same story as the original, with Moana leaving her island on a dangerous journey across the ocean to save her people.

As reviews for Moana have started to appear online ahead of its theatrical release, the film has debuted with a 35% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes after 57 reviews, making it one of Disney’s lowest-rated live-action remakes in recent years.

Many of the early reviews point to the same issue. Critics say the film stays so close to the animated version that it struggles to justify why it exists at all. While several reviewers praised the cast and visuals, many felt there were too few new ideas to make the remake feel fresh.

Aaron Pruner of CNET was among the more positive voices. He gave the film four out of five stars and admitted the remake may not have been necessary, but still found it entertaining. “Disney’s live-action Moana… is an absolutely unnecessary addition to the franchise. But despite that, it’s fun. In fact, it’s the most fun I’ve had in a theater while watching one of these live-action retreads.”

Not every critic agreed. Writing for Rendy Reviews, Rendy Jones gave the film just 1.5 out of five stars. “Doesn’t make any new creative choices to deepen the material, but that’s like praising a dingy water fountain for not coming out brown in comparison to the Brita-filtered tap water you have at home.”

Australia’s Daily Telegraph offered a more favorable opinion. Leigh Paatsch awarded the movie 3.5 out of five stars, writing, “A lovely effort that will stand the test of time, despite sticking to the same blueprint as the original.”

Other critics focused on how closely the remake copies the animated film. Kaitlyn Booth of Bleeding Cool scored it five out of ten and wrote, “Moana is a remake in every sense of the word, with the only meaningful difference being the change in medium, which somehow makes some of the most beautiful locations look drab and ugly.”

Richard Whittaker of Austin Chronicle also criticized the screenplay for changing very little from the original. “Screenwriter Dana Ledoux Miller barely tinkers with Jared Bush’s words from the original, which leaves little to be surprised or excited by.”

The Film Verdict’s Alonso Duralde was more forgiving, saying, “The best that can be said for Moana 2026 is that, for a movie that doesn’t particularly need to exist in the first place, it at least succeeds as entertainment.”

IGN’s Hanna Flint reached a similar conclusion, giving the movie a 6 out of 10. “Moana offers a visually pleasing live-action outing for the Polynesian heroine while being constricted by its faithfulness to the original storyline and camera beats.”

Perhaps the harshest review came from Robbie Collin of the UK’s Daily Telegraph. He gave the film two out of five stars and wrote, “…there is barely a moment in it which feels as if it couldn’t have been achieved by typing: ‘What if this scene from Moana was remade in live action?’ into a video generator’s prompt box.”

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 35% critics score based on 57 reviews. Audience reactions have not yet fully settled, so that number could change once the movie opens in theaters and more reviews are added.

Moana arrives in U.S. theaters on July 10. While Disney is hoping the beloved story and strong family appeal will help it at the box office, its early critical reception suggests this remake may struggle to win over reviewers the way the original animated classic did.

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