LOS ANGELES: A Moana review criticised Disney’s live-action remake as an uninspired retelling, even as Dwayne Johnson returned as Maui and Catherine Laga’aia made her feature debut. Dwayne Johnson is the real-life actor, while Moana is a fictional character
The Fox News review said the Thomas Kail-directed film closely follows the 2016 animated “Moana,” with little added to separate the remake from the original.
The film stars newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, the daughter of Motunui’s chief, and actor Dwayne Johnson as the shapeshifting demigod Maui. People reported that the live-action remake opened in US theatres on July 10, 2026.
The review criticised the film’s visual effects, beach scenes, animal animation and Johnson’s live-action Maui look. It also said the remake felt less funny and less vibrant than Disney’s animated version.
The soundtrack repeats music associated with the original film but lacks the same impact. It also contrasted Laga’aia’s version with Auli’i Cravalho’s original voice performance.
Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the 2016 film and serves as an executive producer on the remake, told People that Laga’aia’s audition stood out for its authenticity and energy.
The review comes as Disney’s live-action “Moana” faces box-office pressure. The film earned about $18 million on its opening Friday and tracked for roughly $42 million to $46 million across its first North American weekend, according to industry estimates carried by box-office reports.
Disney will need stronger family turnout, as the film reportedly has a $250 million production budget.
Read: Moana Box Office Opens With $45M Below Disney Target
The live-action “Moana” remake, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Catherine Laga’aia and Dwayne Johnson, opened with a projected $42-$46 million North American weekend, facing pressure from a $250 million budget.
Reviews, including one from Fox News, criticised the film’s visual effects and felt it lacked the vibrancy of the 2016 animated original
