Moana live-action remake's Rotten Tomatoes score just dropped — and it might surprise you

Disney never really gets tired of digging into the archives, does it? For years, they’ve been churning out these live-action versions of all your childhood favourites. Sometimes they rake in stacks of cash (hello, Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin), sometimes they trip over themselves (see: the slightly bruised egos around Snow White and Mufasa: The Lion King). This whole operation banks hard on nostalgia. Which brings us, in a roundabout way, to the new live-action Moana. The catch? This one’s based on a film that’s not even old enough to get a driving licence, and its sequel just hit cinemas in 2024. So if Disney thought viewers would turn up misty-eyed for another trip across the ocean, that viewpoint was always going to be a stretch.

Moana: The Hot Takes Are In

The live-action Moana had its splashy debut at the Hollywood Bowl this week, and with just weeks to go before its official 10 July release, the early reviews are already trickling in. A diplomatic person might call the reaction 'mixed'. Others might just say people are bickering about it online. To put a number on things: it’s currently limping along with a "rotten" 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is, let’s be honest, not what any studio wants to see first thing in the morning.

The biggest points of contention? There’s a few:

• Visual Style: Critics have lined up to say the new photorealistic look has sapped all the colour and magic out of the story, which – bit awkward – was what made the original sing. More than one reviewer pointed out this remake still looks so much like the cartoon that you might as well stick with the first one anyway.
• Dwayne Johnson as Maui: Reviews have not been kind. His turn as the demigod Maui has been called everything from overly stiff to downright unnecessary, with some critics wondering if The Rock could’ve let someone else have a go this time around.
• The Elephant in the Room: The film’s youth is showing. Why remake something most people still remember seeing for the first time in cinemas? That nagging question has been following the project since day one, and it isn’t going anywhere now.

One Shining Light

If there’s a part everyone actually agrees on, it’s the film’s new lead. Catherine Laga'aia, making her movie debut as Moana (Auli'i Cravalho handed over the paddle for this one), is getting proper applause across the board. And yes, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs – 'You’re Welcome', 'Shiny', and the rest – have made the jump to live-action in one piece. So, not a total wash.

If there’s one point of agreement, it is Catherine Laga'aia. Making her feature debut in the role originated by Auli'i Cravalho, the newcomer impresses.

Where Does This Leave Disney?

Here’s the background: The first Moana was a proper smash, sitting proudly on 95% at Rotten Tomatoes, and scooped up $687 million worldwide. The recent sequel, Moana 2, did even bigger business at the box office ($1.059 billion) despite critics being far less keen. So there’s plenty of money in the tank, but it does mean the live-action version turns up to some pretty lofty expectations.

This divided response leaves Disney in a bit of a pickle. More full reviews will land this week, so we’ll see if things calm down or spiral further. At the moment, there’s a third Moana already confirmed, and Disney seems confident about pulling in at least $60 million on the American opening weekend. The harsh words from critics might end up drowned out by ticket sales – but as things stand, the film’s headed into release weekend with the mood feeling a bit twitchy.

Quick Primer: What’s This Version Actually About?

For those who somehow dodged both previous Moana films: in this new (well, not new, but you know what I mean) live-action outing, we get the classic set-up. Moana, a young Polynesian woman, heads out across the ocean to save her community, tracking down the demigod Maui in order to restore the magical heart of Te Fiti. And yes, waves are surfed and songs are sung.