This live-action remake appears to be a largely unnecessary retread of the original, with the most common response being fatigue at Disney’s remake strategy rather than enthusiasm for a fresh interpretation. The strongest criticism centers on flat visual effects, overreliance on CGI, and a sense that the film adds… Read more
Teenage Moana answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
Director
Thomas Kail
Cast
Catherine Lagaʻaia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen
Curator Review
Verdict
This live-action remake appears to be a largely unnecessary retread of the original, with the most common response being fatigue at Disney’s remake strategy rather than enthusiasm for a fresh interpretation. The strongest criticism centers on flat visual effects, overreliance on CGI, and a sense that the film adds little beyond a familiar story and songs.
Best for
Viewers who want a family adventure they can watch with younger kids
Fans of the original who are curious about a new cast and presentation
Audiences who enjoy glossy studio spectacle even when the creative risk is low
Skip if
You dislike shot-for-shot or near-remake filmmaking
You want inventive fantasy worldbuilding or bold visual style
You are already attached to the animated version and expect something meaningfully new
Overview
This version of Moana lands in the increasingly crowded category of live-action Disney remakes that feel engineered more than inspired. The core voyage story still has broad appeal, but the reaction here points to a film that leans heavily on familiarity, with little sense of discovery or reinvention.
Worth noting
The biggest issue is craft: the visual effects and staging are widely seen as too synthetic to justify the format, especially for a story so dependent on oceanic wonder and physical movement. When the imagery feels weightless, the emotional and musical beats lose some of their lift.
Bottom line
If you have a child who simply wants the characters and songs in a new package, it may still do the job. For most viewers, though, the original animated film remains the better, more alive version of the material, and this one looks like a case of diminishing returns.
Top Letterboxd reviews
𝐉 (2★) · 1213 likes
Did this movie need to be made? No. Did I enjoy it nonetheless? Absolutely No.
Alucard (1★) · 1119 likes
Well at least they paid the basic subscription to hide the Sora Ai watermark
jonathan fujii (1.5★) · 744 likes
nothing matters in this life anyways
′ (2★) · 484 likes
Insane use of free will
Matt Neglia (1.5★) · 420 likes
MOANA (2026) shows just how far Disney will go for a quick and easy buck, producing another unnecessary, nearly shot-for-shot, beat-for-beat live-action remake that doesn’t offer anything new that wasn’t already done better just ten years ago. The visuals are so flat, with a heavy reliance on green-screen use and CGI for so many of its locations, water effects, creatures, and even the musical numbers, that it all comes across as soulless and inauthentic. Dwayne Johnson’s inherent charm is weakened
Themes
coming of age, ocean voyage, family duty, self-discovery, mythic adventure, cultural identity, restoration, heroic quest
Topics
family adventure, fantasy, musical, mythic quest, ocean setting, coming-of-age, CGI spectacle, remake fatigue, wholesome tone, studio blockbuster