Moana(2026)
A decade after the original Moana, Disney finally gives it the live action treatment. Is it any good? Surprisingly… yes.
Starting with the negatives, my biggest issue from the original carries over here: the first act is slow. The family dynamics are solid, but the film doesn’t really find its momentum until Maui enters the picture.
Maybe it’s a hot take, but Dwayne Johnson absolutely nails live action Maui. The charisma, charm, ego, and screen presence all translate incredibly well. Seeing The Rock with long hair is definitely jarring at first, but I got used to it surprisingly quickly.
I adore the original Moana for its soundtrack, heartfelt message, and breathtaking visuals. While this remake stays remarkably faithful, that’s also its biggest weakness. How to Train Your Dragon proved you can honor the source material while expanding the world and deepening the immersion. Moana never quite reaches that level.
This isn’t a disaster, nor is it exceptional, it’s simply a good movie. The color palette isn’t as vibrant as the animated film, though there are still moments that genuinely pop. The humor lands consistently thanks to Maui, Moana, and Hei Hei, and Catherine Laga’aia does a solid job as Moana, even if her inexperience occasionally shows.
I walked away not disappointed, and honestly, that’s all I wanted.
I don’t mind Disney making live action remakes because they’ve proven they can make great ones: Cinderella and Lilo & Stitch are good examples. But for every success, there’s a Snow White or Dumbo that reminds you how easily these remakes can fall flat.
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