The First Reactions for ‘Moana 2’ Are Here (And It’s a Major Disappointment)

The first reviews for Moana 2 (2024) are in, and early reactions suggest the sequel is struggling to capture the magic of the original.

Set three years after the events of Moana, the film follows its titular heroine, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, as she heeds an ancestral call and reunites with Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Together, they embark on a quest to break a curse placed on the hidden island of Motufetu by the god Nalo.

Credit: Disney

Moana 2 wasn’t always envisioned as a feature film. Disney initially developed it as a sequel series before CEO Bob Iger announced in February that test footage (and, let’s be realistic, the prospect of big box office revenue) convinced them to transform it into a movie.

However, this shift raised concerns that the film might resemble a repurposed TV project rather than a cohesive cinematic story—an issue that plagued Disney’s direct-to-DVD sequels back in the 2000s. For a franchise as celebrated as Moana, this was a worrisome prospect.

Curious what to expect from Moana 2? Here’s a (spoiler-free!) look at the first reactions from audiences and critics.

Credit: Disney

A Rushed and Fragmented Story

Many reviewers agree that Moana 2 feels disjointed. X, formerly known as Twitter, user @EzraCubero described it as “a Frankenstein’s monster of a sequel that clumsily cycles through half-baked ideas, generic songs, and pandering callbacks that underscore its emptiness.”

While Cravalho’s performance shines, Dwayne Johnson’s Maui has been criticized as “obnoxiously annoying.” Similarly, Dave Lee Down Under called it “a disjointed, messy, low-stakes story” that feels like a throwback to Disney’s less celebrated sequels.

Credit: Disney

Critics have also noted the sequel’s overreliance on the original. EJ Moreno of Flickering Myth labeled it “a rehash of what came before with little to offer outside of diehard fans,” while Robert Kojder, also from Flickering Myth, described the film as having “disappointing, dispiriting narrative flatness.”

Looper’s Alistair Ryder coined the term “Meh-oana,” stating, “Very little about Moana 2 is memorable even while watching.”

A Soundtrack That Falls Short

Music was a defining feature of Moana, but the sequel’s soundtrack hasn’t achieved the same resonance. Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda, who crafted the original’s iconic songs. While some found the new tracks “catchy,” others dismissed them as “underwhelming imitations” of the first film’s music. Grace Randolph‘s verdict? They’re “just okay.”

Credit: Disney

Stunning Visuals, but Not Much Else

If there’s one area where Moana 2 excels, it’s the visuals. Critics have widely praised the animation, with Mama’s Geeky describing it as “gorgeous in a theatrical setting,” while Mashable highlighted the “beautiful, textured animation.” Yet, many agree that the dazzling visuals can’t compensate for a lackluster story, leaving the film far from Disney classic territory.

What’s your take on Moana 2? Has it lived up to your expectations, or does it fall short?