Disney's Live-action 'Moana' Faces Rough Seas at the Box Office

WHO:

Coming Soon - Catherine Laga'aia has spoken about embracing nepotism as her father Jay Laga'aia worked on Star Wars.

Variety - The cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, Frankie Adams, John Tui, and Rena Owen.

Reddit Movies - Director Thomas Kail is involved in the live-action remake of Moana.

WHAT:

Variety - Some tracking services estimate that Disney's live-action version of Moana will debut to $60 million to $65 million from 3,875 North American theaters, which is just barely above the original 2016 adventure's opening of $56 million.

Moviefone - The live-action adaptation of Moana is directed by Thomas Kail, known for his work on 'Hamilton'.

Collider - The live-action Moana remake is being clobbered by critics with a devastating Rotten Tomatoes debut, indicating a significant negative reception.

Collider - The live-action Moana has received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 30% and a Metacritic score of 45 out of 100.

ABC News - The cast of 'Moana' celebrated the premiere of the live-action film ahead of its nationwide release.

Variety - The live-action version of Moana is estimated to debut with ticket sales between $60 million to $65 million.

Variety - The original animated Moana opened to $56 million in 2016.

Deadline - The live-action Moana is described as neither alive nor particularly propulsive.

Collider - The live-action Moana is criticized for failing to recapture the magic of the animated version.

IndieWire - A third animated film in the Moana franchise is in development.

WHERE:

Reddit Movies - Principal location shooting for the live-action Moana was done on O’ahu, Hawaii.

WHEN:

Moviefone - Disney's live-action adaptation of 'Moana' is set to be released in theaters on July 10th.

Moviefone - The live-action adaptation of 'Moana' is set to be released in theaters on July 10th.

IndieWire - A third animated film in the Moana franchise is in development, with no specific release date mentioned.

WHY:

Coming Soon - Dwayne Johnson responded to criticism that the live-action remake of Moana came too soon, stating that he embraces the opportunity to bring the story to a new generation.

Deadline - Critics have described the live-action Moana as a "cash grab" and noted that it lacks creativity and innovation compared to the original animated film.

Collider - Critics have described the live-action Moana as a "cash grab" and noted that it lacks creativity and innovation compared to the original animated film.

Deadline - The live-action remake is seen as a cash grab, with critics suggesting it lacks creativity and innovation.

The Independent - The film is criticized for pushing real diversity in Polynesian hair textures into the background.

HOW:

Deadline - The majority of scenes in the live-action Moana were filmed against poorly done backdrops or animation that is barely distinguishable from the original.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 01:26 UTC)

Disney's live-action version of Moana is projected to debut with earnings between $60 million and $65 million from nearly 3,900 North American theaters, slightly surpassing the original film's opening of $56 million back in 2016. Directed by Thomas Kail, who gained fame for his work on 'Hamilton', this adaptation aims to capture the hearts of a new generation. Dwayne Johnson has addressed concerns about the timing of the remake, expressing his enthusiasm for sharing the beloved story once again.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 20:23 UTC)

Catherine Laga'aia has opened up about embracing nepotism, as her father, Jay Laga'aia, is known for his work on Star Wars. Meanwhile, Disney's live-action adaptation of 'Moana' is facing harsh criticism, debuting with a dismal score on Rotten Tomatoes, leading many to call it a "cash grab" that lacks the creativity of the original animated film. This live-action version is set to hit theaters on July 10th.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 19:23 UTC)

The live-action adaptation of Moana has received a disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score of 30% and a Metacritic score of 45 out of 100. Critics have labeled the film a "cash grab," pointing out its lack of creativity and innovation when compared to the beloved animated original. Additionally, many scenes were filmed against poorly executed backdrops or animation that hardly differs from the original film.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 17:24 UTC)

The cast of 'Moana' recently celebrated the premiere of the live-action adaptation of the beloved film. This highly anticipated movie is set to hit theaters on July 10th. Fans are eager to see how the new version brings the story to life.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 16:28 UTC)

The live-action remake of Moana is set to feature a cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, Frankie Adams, John Tui, and Rena Owen, with direction by Thomas Kail. This new version is estimated to debut with ticket sales between $60 million to $65 million, which is a notable increase from the original animated film's opening of $56 million in 2016. However, critics have described the live-action adaptation as lacking the magic of its predecessor and have pointed out that it feels neither alive nor particularly propulsive. Principal filming took place on O’ahu, Hawaii, but many scenes are criticized for being shot against poorly done backdrops that barely distinguish themselves from the original animation. Additionally, a third animated film in the Moana franchise is currently in development, although no specific release date has been announced.