Overview
- Disney released the live-action/CGI Moana in cinemas on Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Early critical reaction is mixed to negative with many reviewers saying the film largely reproduces the 2016 original scene for scene and adds little new creativity.
- Catherine Lagaʻaia’s turn as Moana is widely cited as a highlight while opinions on Dwayne Johnson’s live-action Maui range from praise to criticism over his translated performance and prosthetic bodywork.
- Several critics call the heavy use of photoreal CGI a visual weakness that makes environments and creatures look flat or artificial, a complaint that sits alongside a minority of reviews praising selective CG sequences and the score.
- Industry trackers reported softened pre-sales and domestic opening estimates roughly in the $45–70 million range against reported production costs near $200 million, and outlets expect PVOD about two months after release with a likely Disney+ window around 90–100 days though those dates are not official.