Disney remade Moana. Nobody asked for it. And now we have it.
Screen Rant gives the 2026 live-action remake a 6 out of 10. That’s a “fine” score. Not great. Not bad. Just fine. And honestly? That sums the whole movie up.
Same Story. Different Look. Less Magic.
This new Moana tells the exact same story as the 2016 cartoon. Almost scene for scene. Almost word for word. Director Thomas Kail changes very little. The script stays almost the same. The songs stay. The ending stays. Even the big twist stays.
So why does it feel so flat?
Because live-action can’t do what animation does. The 2016 film burst with wild colors, big bold shapes, and dream-like energy. This one tries to look real. And real, in this case, means dull.
The Color Is Gone. The Brown Stays.
Here’s the biggest problem. Everything looks muddy.
The lush green island of Te Fiti? Now it looks like a regular forest. The exciting Kakamora battle scene? Now it’s mostly brown and hard to follow. The whole movie has a washed-out, gray-brown look that drags the fun out of every big moment.
The animated Moana felt like a painting come to life. This one feels like a nature documentary without the animals.
What About the Stars?
Catherine Laga’aia plays Moana. She does a solid job. She carries the songs well. But she doesn’t bring the same spark and energy as Auliʻi Cravalho in the cartoon. Action scenes feel less exciting. Her stunts look less real.
Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui. He still has charisma. He and Laga’aia share some fun moments together. But Johnson loses a lot of charm without the wild cartoon expressions of the animated Maui. He feels a bit tamed down.
The two actors work well together. But they can’t fully replace what the cartoon gave us.
What the Movie Gets Right
The costumes look stunning. The sets look beautiful. The village of Motunui feels alive and real. The film clearly respects Polynesian culture. All the main actors come from that culture. That matters a lot.
The songs still slap. “You’re Welcome” still bangs. “Shiny” still delivers. And a fun new song during the end credits brings both Laga’aia and the original Moana actress Auliʻi Cravalho together.
The Verdict
Disney’s Moana (2026) is fine. It tells a great story — because the original story is great. But it adds nothing new. It takes away color, energy, and spark.
If you love the cartoon, you’ll probably enjoy this too. Just don’t expect to feel that same magic. 6/10.
