Disney's live-action Moana remake was largely met with scepticism when it was first announced in April 2023, and it doesn't seem to have won over many people judging by the first reactions.
The film is a live-action adaptation of the studio's 2016 animation of the same name, with the action following the titular character (played here by Catherine Laga'aia) as she leaves her home island of Motunui to save her community.
Directed by Hamilton's Thomas Kail, the musical adventure also stars Rena Owen, John Tui and Frankie Adams, while Dwayne Johnson and Jermaine Clement reprise their respective roles from the original film.
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While the remake is likely to plenty of money at the box office once it's released on Friday (10 July), it doesn't look to have gone down well with critics, with some on X branding it "creatively bankrupt" and "soulless".
"#Moana (2026) is PATHETIC!," wrote Jonathan Sim of Us Weekly. "A shot-for-shot, line-by-line remake without a single original idea. A creatively bankrupt cash grab with ZERO interesting direction. They don't innovate; they imitate. Why watch this when Moana (2016) is on Disney+?! A soulless, miserable financial decision. SKIP!"
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Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture echoed this sentiment, writing: "Moana (2026) shows just how far Disney will go for a quick and easy buck, producing another unnecessary, nearly shot-for-shot, beat-for-beat live-action remake that doesn't offer anything new."
"The visuals are so flat, with a heavy reliance on green-screen use and CGI for so many of its locations, water effects, creatures, and even the musical numbers, that it all comes across as soulless and inauthentic," they added, before calling it a "hollow re-tread".
Peter Gray of The AU Review was similarly unimpressed despite saying that Laga'aia "shines" in the titular role, writing: "It adds nothing the animated original didn't already achieve. It often looks animated anyway, and Dwayne feels uncomfortable as Maui."
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There were some kinder remarks, however, with That Hollywood Show's Junior Felix noting: "I genuinely really enjoyed Disney's live-action #Moana. Catherine Laga'aia is electrifying and a bona fide STAR. Her chemistry with @TheRock is effortless."
Tessa Smith of Mama's Geeky was also full of praise, opining: "Honestly a little surprised to admit how much I enjoyed the live-action Moana. Catherine Laga'aia does a great job continuing the legacy (& has incredible comedic chemistry with Dwayne Johnson)."
Moana is in cinemas on Friday 10 July.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
