‘Moana’ Live Action Post Credits Scene Explained – Should You Stay In Your Seat?

Disney’s live-action remake machine keeps chugging along, and this week brings one of its most anticipated entries yet with a flesh-and-blood take on ‘Moana’. The film reunites Dwayne Johnson with the role of Maui, a part he originated as a voice actor in the 2016 animated original, while introducing newcomer Catherine Laga’aia in her feature film debut as the title character.

Directed by Thomas Kail in his first outing behind a film camera, the new ‘Moana’ arrived in theaters nationwide on July 10 with a screenplay from original writer Jared Bush alongside ‘Moana 2’ scribe Dana Ledoux Miller. As with any big theatrical release these days, audiences heading into showings have naturally started asking the question that comes with almost every blockbuster now, whether or not there is a reason to stick around once the credits start rolling.

The short answer is that ‘Moana’ does not appear to include a traditional post-credits scene in the way audiences might expect from a superhero movie or a horror franchise entry. What it does offer instead is musical rather than narrative, built around a brand new original song that plays during the credits sequence itself.

That song is called “Along the Way,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda specifically for this remake. It brings together Johnson, Laga’aia, and Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in both the 2016 original and its 2024 sequel, in a single performance that plays as the credits roll rather than being worked into the film’s story.

Cravalho’s involvement extends beyond just the song, since she also serves as an executive producer on the live-action version, helping bridge the gap between her animated take on the character and Laga’aia’s new live-action portrayal. Her presence on the track has been described by multiple outlets as one of the more meaningful touches of the credits sequence, even if reviews of the song itself have been mixed.

Reaction to “Along the Way” has honestly been one of the more divisive small details among early reviews. Some critics called the number an affable and sweetly performed addition, while others found the lyrics forgettable and noted it feels reminiscent of songs from ‘Moana 2’. A number of reviewers also pointed out that the song is not integrated into the film’s actual plot, instead being saved entirely for the credits, which some saw as a missed opportunity given the talent involved.

So, for anyone specifically hoping for a Marvel-style stinger that teases a sequel or drops a surprise cameo, the current wave of reviews suggests that is not what ‘Moana’ is offering. Instead, the reward for staying seated is simply the new original song and a chance to hear Cravalho and Laga’aia perform together for the first time.

Given how closely this remake has stuck to the beats of the original animated film in nearly every other respect, it is no surprise that the credits sequence follows a similarly restrained approach rather than setting up a larger cinematic universe moment. The film has been described across the board as a faithful, at times almost shot-for-shot recreation of its predecessor, so a splashy story continuation tacked onto the end would have been something of an outlier for this particular project.

That does not mean the credits are without value for fans invested in the franchise’s legacy. Watching Cravalho, the actress who introduced audiences to Moana nearly a decade ago, share a song with the actress now carrying the role forward offers its own kind of emotional payoff, even without a plot twist attached to it.

Whether you consider that enough of a reason to stay in your seat likely depends on how invested you are in the music side of the franchise versus its story, but at the very least it clears up the confusion for anyone wondering if they are about to miss something crucial by heading for the exit.

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