‘Moana’ review: Lifeless live-action remake fails to capture the spirit of Disney’s animated original

Dir: Thomas Kail. US. 2026. 115mins

In theory, the appeal of Disney’s live-action remakes of its animated hits should be the opportunity to present audiences with vivid, radically new versions of beloved stories. But the 2026 Moana demonstrates these flashy redos routinely stifle the charm that was in abundance in the original pictures. The songs from the 2016 film remain stirring, but director Thomas Kail struggles to summon the same sunny spirit and heartfelt tone. And while Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as a conceited demigod who teams up reluctantly with a brave teen, he is not nearly as lively as he was in the animated original.

Leaden approach saps this high-seas adventure of its excitement

Ten years ago, Moana grossed $643m worldwide, with 2024’s Moana 2 bringing in $1.1bn. This live-action version, which opens July 10 in the UK and US, will aim to match those hefty sums, and Johnson’s star power certainly helps. Family fare such as Toy Story 5 and the underperforming Minions & Monsters will be competing for the same demographic, but the franchise’s popularity should guarantee strong commercial returns. (And discussions are underway for an animated Moana 3.)

Newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia plays Moana, the fiercely independent 16-year-old daughter of Chief Tui (John Tui), the benevolent ruler of the Polynesian island of Motunui. Her father preaches caution, insisting that none in the community travel beyond the reef, but once the island’s vegetation begins to die and the sea has no more fish, Moana sets out on the water to find answers. On her journey, she meets Maui (Johnson), a banished demigod who long ago stole a mystical stone that upset the balance of nature. Now, Moana and Maui must restore the stone, known as the heart of Te Fiti.

The new film brings back many of the songs from the 2016 original, and tracks such as ‘How Far I’ll Go’ and ‘You’re Welcome’, both written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, have lost none of their melodic richness. Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated pictures, had a buoyant singing voice, and while Lagaʻaia’s is not as singular, she sturdily recreates the tunes’ shiny surface.

The animated original – which was directed by Little Mermaid filmmakers John Musker and Ron Clements – had a sweeping vision of the Pacific, complete with gorgeous oceans and idyllic islands, but the new Moana feels frustratingly stagebound and claustrophobic. Kail, who previously directed the 2020 filmed version of Miranda’s Tony-winning Hamilton, does not display much innovation in the musical numbers, which are marred by subpar choreography. And the film’s drab design extends far beyond those sequences. As much as this remake is touted as being live-action, the truth is that Kail works largely on sets and soundstages, filling in backgrounds and creating animal characters through excessive digital effects that add no sense of magic, wonder or realism. Consequently, the leaden approach saps this high-seas adventure of its excitement.

Her strong vocal skills notwithstanding, Lagaʻaia lacks the effervescence that Cravalho exuded as Moana. Jared Bush (who wrote the two animated Moana films) and Dana Ledoux Miller (his co-writer on Moana 2) craft a screenplay that mostly follows the 2016 film’s outline, but the crucial missing element in the new Moana is the winning contentious rapport between the title character and Maui. Whereas before the two characters sparred amusingly but eventually developed a touching camaraderie, here the bickering becomes tiresome and their later reconciliation is unearned. Kail seems hemmed in by the substantial technical logistics, unable to guide his actors to endearing, effortless performances.

In the previous pictures, the animated Maui was (literally) cartoonish with his gargantuan muscles, flowing hair and lavish tattoos. The cheerfully over-the-top character design, paired with Johnson’s self-mockingly arrogant portrayal, made Maui’s delusions of grandeur endlessly delightful. But as rendered in live-action, the actor’s admittedly impressive physique is nonetheless a far cry from the animated character’s outsized comic proportions. In addition, although Johnson has been very funny in comedic roles, the live-action Moana robs Maui of his lightness; he is meant to be a blowhard who finally reveals his insecurities, but Johnson never captures the demigod’s vulnerable side.

A few of the supporting performances remind the viewer of what made the 2016 film so moving. Rena Owen is lovely as Moana’s grandmother Tala, who tells her about the island’s secret past in the hope that the teenager can help foster a brighter future. But as Kail overdoes the gaudy spectacle during the third-act action sequences, this live-action remake gets perilously close to feeling lifeless.