A bright, kid-friendly ocean adventure with appealing characters and polished spectacle, but it draws criticism for feeling overextended, mechanically plotted, and less emotionally resonant than the original. It works best as easygoing family entertainment rather than a must-see sequel.
Moana 2
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Animation
Thu · 1h 40m
Director: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced.
Director
David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Cast
Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung
Curator Review
Verdict
A bright, kid-friendly ocean adventure with appealing characters and polished spectacle, but it draws criticism for feeling overextended, mechanically plotted, and less emotionally resonant than the original. It works best as easygoing family entertainment rather than a must-see sequel.
Best for
families with younger kids
fans of colorful animated adventure
viewers who want a low-stakes musical fantasy
audiences attached to the characters and world of the first film
Skip if
you want a tightly structured story
you expect the sequel to deepen the original's emotional arc
you are sensitive to franchise padding or TV-episode energy
you mainly want memorable songs on the level of the first film
Overview
Moana 2 has the kind of broad, glossy appeal that makes it easy to watch with a family: big ocean vistas, lively side characters, and a steady stream of quest mechanics. The animation remains attractive in motion, and the film leans hard into the comfort of returning to a world audiences already know and like.
Worth noting
The downside is that the sequel often feels assembled rather than discovered. The story moves through mission beats with limited surprise, and several reviews point to a sense of repetition and a thinner emotional payoff than the original. It has enough momentum to entertain, but not enough invention to feel essential.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for an uncomplicated animated adventure for kids, it does the job. If you’re hoping for the kind of musical, character-driven spark that made the first film stand out, this one is more of a mixed return trip than a triumphant voyage.
Top Letterboxd reviews
alli (5★) · 9863 likes
Give Moana a girlfriend
JoshuaPictures (2.5★) · 8483 likes
I'm already forgetting what happened
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 8284 likes
The water looked worse than it did in the original 😐
1998 · Animation, Family, Adventure · 1h 28m · G · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A strong animated Disney adventure about duty, identity, and stepping into a larger destiny, with a similar balance of humor, action, and family appeal.