Dwayne Johnson Defends Live-Action “Moana” Amid Mixed Reviews

The live-action remake of Disney’s Polynesian-inspired adventure opened on July 10. Catherine Laga’aia took over the title role, while Dwayne Johnson returned as the demigod Maui. Early audience reaction was strong, but critics were less favorable, giving the film a 31 % critics score on Rotten Tomatoes according to *The Hollywood Reporter* and a 32 % rating reported by *Deadline*. The audience score, however, was considerably higher at 88 %.

Hollywood Reporter

• Global box office: $266 million versus $264 million.

Deadline Hollywood

• Production budget: reported at $250 million.

Hollywood Reporter

• Rotten Tomatoes: 31 % critics score vs 32 %; 88 % audience score.

Hollywood Reporter

He emphasized the importance of cultural representation, saying the film allowed Polynesian children to see themselves on a big screen.

Hollywood Reporter

Johnson highlighted that “the culture really stood up,” underscoring the significance of Polynesian visibility in mainstream cinema. Disney’s strategy, as outlined by D’Amaro, positions the film to bolster its streaming catalog, leveraging the original animated *Moana*—one of the most streamed movies ever—to attract subscribers despite theatrical underperformance.

Deadline Hollywood

• “That’s just the way it goes because we’re in this business,” — Johnson. Watch

Deadline Hollywood

• “The challenge was, okay, let’s remember, though, what’s going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let’s remember what’s happening right now and the noise that’s happening right now,” — Dwayne Johnson

Deadline Hollywood

• “Even when our franchise films don’t meet our box office expectations, as with The Mandalorian and Grogu and the live-action Moana, our investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company,” — Josh D’Amaro, disney CEO

Deadline Hollywood