Moana
The ocean chose her for a reason.
Teenage Moana answers the Ocean's call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
Directed by Thomas Kail · Family · Fantasy · Comedy · 115 min · 2026
Trailer
Director
Thomas Kail
Studio
Walt Disney Pictures / Seven Bucks Productions
Release
2026-07-08
Runtime
115 min
Genres
Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Full Plot
Live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film 'Moana.'
Cast & Characters
Moana
Catherine Lagaʻaia
Gramma Tala
Rena Owen
Chief Tui
John Tui
Sina
Frankie Adams
Tamatoa (voice)
Jemaine Clement
8-year-old Moana while Emma Puahi-Shapazian appears as 4-year-old Moana.
Amaya Masoli appears
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $250.0M, Moana has grossed $191.4M worldwide — about 0.8x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
As of August 2, 2026, Moana has grossed $114.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
In 2019, Walt Disney Pictures privately approached Dwayne Johnson with plans for a live-action adaptation of Moana (2016).
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Moana holds 5.9/10 on TMDb (159 votes). IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic scores will populate automatically via the site's daily refresh once available.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on TMDb's aggregated score (5.9/10 on TMDb (159 votes)), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moana's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Moana holds a 31% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Is Moana good? What are critics saying?+
Moana holds 5.9/10 on TMDb (159 votes). IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic scores will populate automatically via the site's daily refresh once available.
How long is Moana?+
Moana has a runtime of 115 min.
Who directed Moana?+
Moana was directed by Thomas Kail.
Where can I watch Moana?+
Moana is available to stream, rent, or buy on Fandango At Home.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction is overwhelmingly negative, with many considering "Moana 2026" to be a lackluster remake. Critics have noted that it trives on nearly identical beats from its predecessor and lacks significant changes. The response was mixed, with some fans expressing excitement about the visuals and others criticizing the film's CGI-heavy approach.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Check out my full review @ https://www.manuelsbento.com/moana-2026-stranded-on-a-soundstage-of-pure-nostalgia/ Rating: C MOANA had every chance to expand on its animated predecessor, and it wastes almost all of it. Beat for beat identical to the 2016 original, this remake trades…
Manuel São Bento · 5/10On a gorgeous Polynesian island where they all...speak...very...slowly, the young "Moana" (Catherine Laga'aia) is conflicted by her father's (John Tui) warning never to venture beyond the reef that protects their home and her grandmother (Rena Owen) who is embedded more in the tr…
CinemaSerf · 6/10She sings, he grins wide / Water swallows the whole screen / Talent wins the day #filmreviewhaiku
ianrathbone · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
2016 Moana: 100% animated 2026 Moana: 95% animated
@travisvanalst4698 · 3643 likesDisney: Hey, want a visually less appealing version of the same exact story shot for shot?
@shannonhallstein4268 · 3466 likesThey practically showed us whole movie in one trailer. Oh wait we've already seen the whole movie haven't we?
@waverider9920 · 1657 likesCant wait until 2030 when the make an animated remake of this live action remake
@westlander361 · 269 likesWhy would I want to eat Hamburger Remastered when Hamburger already works wonderfully?
@SeekerOfFun · 152 likesWith this amount of CGI, why wouldn't I just watch the animated version?
@misplacedgirl · 879 likes"It's true, I have beautiful hair." I see what you did there, Disney.
@Rasim9898 · 1606 likesDisney: Coming to a theater near you. Me: Is that a threat?
@Rasim9898 · 982 likes
