Can Disney's Live-Action 'Moana' Beat the Animated Original?
The review says the live-action film adds little new material and loses the animated original’s imagination, even as Catherine Lagaʻaia and Dwayne Johnson perform well.
- Disney's live-action Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, hit theaters Thursday as a near shot-for-shot remake of the 2016 animated feature, with critics describing the result as "lifeless" and "purposeless."
- Following fan furor over plot changes in Lilo and Stitch, Disney reverted to carbon-copy tactics seen in last year's Train Your Dragon, crafting what critics label a "cynical cash grab" targeting nostalgia.
- Catherine Laga shines as the titular hero, yet Dwayne Johnson struggles to match the animated Maui's verve; the film's "tangible" recreation of Motunui grounds Polynesian culture more effectively than the original.
- Musical sequences featuring Jemaine Clement as Tamatoa feel static; critics argue the live-action staging of "How Far I'll Go" lacks the animated version's expressive, hand-drawn magic that defined the original.
- While a third animated Moana film is in development, critics suggest the franchise is in "increasingly desperate need of some new waters to explore," signaling the limits of live-action nostalgia mining.
22 Articles
22 Articles
'Moana' Review, Nostalgic Music Hits, But Disney's New Live-Action Remake Lacks Its Own Identity
Disney’s live-action remake of Moana was planned a long time ago. While the performance of Snow White in 2025 raised a lot of questions about the fate of Moana, Disney decided to go ahead without any pause, and the musical adventure is arriving in theatres on July 10, 2026. Notably, advance screenings have been organised, and the verdict is out now. The premise remains the same, and the runtime is a little long compared to the original animated …
The new version with characters of flesh and bone repeats the actions, dialogues and music of the original animated film; it is rescued by the visual appeal and charisma of Dwayne Johnson
Movie Review: The live-action ‘Moana’ is a lifeless carbon copy of an animated classic
Say what you will about them, but the Disney live-action remakes have at least given us a choice. Which would you rather see? A spirited, soaring, animated “Moana,” or a purposeless remake featuring Dwayne Johnson with Fabio hair?
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
