Disney's latest live-action adaptation is off to a challenging start with critics.
Moana (2026) has opened with a 36% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, placing it below Snow White (2025), which currently sits at 39%. That gives the newest remake the lowest critical reception among Disney's recent live-action reimaginings.
The comparison is one Disney likely hoped to avoid. Snow White endured years of public discussion before reaching theaters, with debates surrounding Rachel Zegler's casting, changes to the film's portrayal of the dwarven characters, and other creative decisions dominating much of the conversation. Directed by Marc Webb and co-starring Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film ultimately became one of Disney's most disappointing box office performers in recent years.
Rather than stepping away from live-action remakes, however, Disney has continued investing in the format. A new adaptation of Tangled (2010) remains in production under The Greatest Showman (2017) director Michael Gracey, with Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim, Kathryn Hahn, and Diego Luna leading the cast.
Before reviews arrived, Moana had largely been viewed as one of the studio's stronger prospects. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui while also producing the film, describing the adaptation as especially meaningful because of its Polynesian heritage.
The project also marks the feature directing debut of Hamilton‘s Thomas Kail. Original Moana writer Jared Bush reunited with Dana Ledoux Miller for the screenplay, with Miller previously saying the film would feature “a real human vulnerability that will make it feel fresh.”
Musically, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina return to the franchise, while Catherine Laga'aia steps into the title role. Original Moana performer Auli'i Cravalho serves as an executive producer after choosing not to reprise the character, citing the value of authentic casting. John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen complete a cast centered on Pacific Island representation.
Still, warning signs emerged before audiences arrived. Global Box Office posted the following forecast on X: “MOANA live-action remake, starring Dwayne Johnson, has pre-sales bombing harder than expected. The projection for its domestic opening weekend is now down to $45M-$60M. With a budget of ~$200M, it is on track to become one of Disney's biggest bombs.”
Reaction online has been divided. Some fans remained optimistic, with one describing the original Moana as a “Disney+ goldmine” while predicting an $84 million opening weekend that would surpass Minions & Monsters (2026).
Others were far less enthusiastic. Several commenters questioned why Disney revisited the story so soon after the animated films, while some criticized Johnson's appearance as Maui for resembling the animated design too closely. Another commenter argued, “Let this finally be the end of the live-action remake,” encouraging Disney to prioritize “updated animation” instead. Sympathy also emerged for newcomer Catherine Laga'aia, with one social media user writing that they “feel bad for the girl playing Moana.”
The commercial challenge becomes clearer when compared with Moana 2 (2024). The animated sequel earned $389 million worldwide during its first five days before ultimately reaching $1.059 billion globally, setting a high bar for any follow-up tied to the franchise.
Whether Moana can overcome its early reviews remains to be seen, but its debut has already intensified discussion surrounding Disney's ongoing reliance on live-action remakes. Even so, the studio's plans remain in motion, with Tangled continuing its path toward the big screen.
Should Disney stop production on its live-action movies? Let us know in the comments down below!
