Disney’s Live-Action “Moana” Sets Sail Amid Mixed Reviews and Box-Office Uncertainty

Disney’s live-action adaptation of the 2016 animated musical “Moana” opened in North America on Thursday, July 8, 2026 in 3,875 theaters. The film is directed by Thomas Kail (Broadway’s “Hamilton”) and stars Catherine Laga’aia, a 19-year-old Australian-Samoan actress, as the titular heroine, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his animated role as the demigod Maui. The story follows Moana, daughter of chief Chief Tui (John Tui), as she quests to restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti and end an ecological blight on Motunui.

The Guardian

The original “Moana” became a cultural touchstone, earning $680 million worldwide and becoming one of Disney+’s most-watched titles. A sequel, originally conceived as a Disney+ series, was retooled into the 2024 theatrical release “Moana 2,” which grossed $1.059 billion globally. Disney’s recent strategy has emphasized live-action remakes of its animated catalog, with mixed financial outcomes: “Lilo & Stitch” (2022) crossed $1 billion, while “Dumbo” (2019) and “Snow White” (2023) opened below $50 million and were deemed box-office losers.

Variety MagazineDeadline HollywoodIs MOANA 3 Already in the Works?Boston GlobeAssociated Press

• Production budget: $250 million (excluding global marketing).

Variety Magazine

• Opening-weekend domestic projections: $60–$65 million (Variety) versus a lower $40 million estimate from some exhibitors.

Variety Magazine

• International opening forecast: $70–$75 million, with strong markets expected in Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, France, Germany, and the UK.

Deadline Hollywood

• Rotten Tomatoes score: 33 % (as of release).

Variety Magazine

• Advance ticket sales: roughly $4 million.

Variety Magazine

Disney’s internal tracking indicates confidence that the film will achieve a $130 million global start, relying on family and female audiences and leveraging IMAX, PLF, 3D, and 4DX formats. The studio highlighted the “real-people” portrayal of Polynesian culture as a differentiator from the animated original. In a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Dwayne Johnson confirmed that writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller will return for a planned “Moana 3,” stating, “Yes, we have talked about MOANA 3, yes.”

Is MOANA 3 Already in the Works?

Critics across major outlets describe the remake as a “pointless” and “unexciting” retread that fails to capture the animated film’s imaginative scope. Reviewers note that the heavy reliance on CGI renders the movie “more like another animation” and that Johnson’s prosthetic-enhanced Maui appears “artificial” and “chintzy.” The translation of iconic musical numbers into live-action is deemed static, with the ocean-driven choreography of “How Far I’ll Go” losing its visual synergy. Several reviewers argue that the film prioritizes nostalgia over narrative innovation, labeling it a “cynical cash grab.”

Vulture

• “The Rock looks like Stretch Armstrong in Moana, a realization it took me around half of the nearly two-hour running time to come to.” — *Vulture* reviewer

Vulture

• “The movie adds a fanciful animated background to Maui’s first big song, “You’re Welcome,” in order to have more than just Johnson and Laga’aia swanning around a desert island onscreen, but the result looks about as deft as a YouTube kiddie show.” — *Vulture* reviewer

Vulture

• “Say what you will about them, but theDisney live-action remakeshave at least given us a choice.” — *AP* reviewer

Associated Press

• “Yes, we have talked about MOANA 3, yes,” — Dwayne Johnson, press conference

Is MOANA 3 Already in the Works?

Box-office forecasts diverge sharply: Variety cites a $60–$65 million domestic opening, while some exhibitors predict a $40 million debut, and Deadline’s tracking suggests a $75 million start. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 33 % rating, yet other outlets note the film has “no reviews yet” at the time of release. No official Disney spokesperson comment on the mixed critical reception is present in the source material.

Variety Magazine

The summer slate will be dominated by Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” (July 17) and Sony/Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (July 31). Disney’s potential “Moana 3” remains unannounced, with Johnson indicating that the live-action film will precede any further sequel development.

Is MOANA 3 Already in the Works?