From the moment I first saw the teaser for the live-action Moana movie, I’ve been concerned. It looked like a cheap, bland, and unnecessary remake of arguably Disney’s best animated movie to come out of the Revival Era. And the first reactions from those who have seen the new Moana remake seem to mostly confirm my initial predictions, though some did enjoy parts of the new take on the popular animated adventure.
On Tuesday night, Moana held its world premiere screening in Los Angeles. And while official reviews are still embargoed at the moment, people are posting their impressions and thoughts on social media. And it would be generous to call the reactions mixed. Instead, I’d say most people seemed to either find Moana to be a waste of time or just downright terrible, with a few outliers either calling it fine or criticizing it overall while praising specific parts of the film, like the performances of Catherine Laga’aia as Moana.
Matt Neglia, EIC of Next Best Picture, said the new remake is a “nearly shot-for-shot, beat-for-beat live-action remake that doesn’t offer anything new that wasn’t already done better just ten years ago.”
“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. Dwayne Johnson’s inherent charm is weakened by his distracting fake body suit,” added Neglia.
Entertainment reporter Jonathan Sim shared similar complaints, calling Moana 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,” said Sim.
Discussing Film writer and critic Tyler Taing called the new remake “one of the ugliest movies of the year,” adding, “The photorealistic style takes more than it gives. Worse, it just doesn’t even pretend to have any new ideas.”
MOANA (2026) takes one Disney’s most vibrant films of the revival era and turns it into one of the ugliest movies of the year. The photorealistic style takes more than it gives. Worse, it just doesn’t even pretend to have any new ideas.
Full review tomorrow for @DiscussingFilm! pic.twitter.com/7klsc944rc
— tyler “llewyn” taing (@tylerllewtaing) July 8, 2026
Gizmodo’s own Germain Lussier wasn’t any kinder to the film, posting on Twitter: “If you’re curious what Moana would be like slower, darker & less whimsical, boy, have I got a movie for you. The live-action remake captures some of what made the original so magical with its song scenes, but the rest of it never finds the right tone.”
However, there were some less negative reactions posted on Wednesday, too.
Film and TV critic Tessa Smith said she was “surprised” by how much she enjoyed the remake, posting: “Catherine Laga’aia does a great job continuing the legacy (& has incredible comedic chemistry with Dwayne Johnson). There are some truly stunning shots. Gosh, I love this story.”
Mary Sue EIC and writer Rachel Leishman admitted that the remake is a complete copy of the original animated movie, but for her that worked.
“Moana is the same as the animated,” said Leishman on Twitter. “Which is what I’ve always wanted from these. For the most part it is fun! Got me at the same parts & Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music is sublime. Catherine Laga’aia is a perfect Moana, but the Rock is outshined by her at every point. Not enough Pua.”
MOANA is the same as the animated. Which is what I've always wanted from these. For the most part it is fun! Got me at the same parts & Lin-Manuel Miranda's music is sublime. Catherine Laga'aia is a perfect Moana but the Rock is out shined by her at every point. Not enough Pua. pic.twitter.com/doZXh2p4Jg
— Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) July 8, 2026
Journalist Fabricio Giraob offered up a more neutral reaction to the remake, saying it was “Okay at best.”
“It isn’t a disaster like other Disney adaptations, but it isn’t a great adaptation either. It is the most copy-and-paste Disney remake yet, repeating exact lines and shots from the original, but never reaches the brilliance and excellence of the animated movie,” said Giraob.
It sounds like we won’t have to wait long for full reviews to go live, but I can imagine folks at Disney aren’t looking forward to the Rotten Tomatoes score that the Moana remake will likely end up with once all those critical assessments are posted online. But if the live-action remake can prove to be a box-office winner like the original animated film and its sequel, the execs at Disney will be able to sleep comfortably on their even bigger piles of money.
Moana arrives in theaters on July 10. The original movie and its sequel are both available now to watch on Disney+.
