When Disney released the animated film Moana in 2016, about a Polynesian girl who pursued an ocean spanning adventure in order to save her people and island, it was a big swing. Moana was far from the typical Disney princess, and there had never been a Disney animated film that centered Polynesian culture.
Thanks to an inspiring story, beautiful animation and one of the best soundtracks in recent memory, Moana became a hit, earning over $643 million worldwide. Its sequel, Moana 2, built on that wave to the tune of over $1 billion globally in 2024. Now, the franchise sees its third feature film entry in the form of a live-action reimagining of the original film.
Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia steps into the title role, taking the baton from Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced the character in the animated features. Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson literally brings the character he voiced to life as the demigod Maui.
The result is a beautiful homage to Polynesian culture that takes representation to a new level by featuring Polynesian actors on screen and highlighting their music, dance and customs. There are elements that don’t translate well to live action, and the moments drenched in CGI only serve as reminders of where the film falls short. But this version is worth watching for Laga’aia’s charm, charisma and outstanding vocal talents.
Moana releases July 10, 2026 in theaters.
Moana Official Synopsis
In “Moana,” Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, p.g.a., Beau Flynn, p.g.a., Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, p.g.a. and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth, Kail and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films “Moana” and “Moana 2.” “Moana” features the new song “Along The Way,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Cravalho, Laga’aia and Johnson; original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina; and an original score composed by Mancina. Audiences can experience the brilliant cinematic sights, sounds and songs of “Moana” exclusively in theaters July 10, 2026.
Review – Catherine Laga’aia Leads a Strong Polynesian Cast
Auli’i Cravalho is the kind of talent that is nearly impossible to replace. Her voice is both beautiful and powerful and, through two animated films, Cravalho made Moana into one of Disney’s most beloved characters. When Cravalho announced in 2023 that she would not be reprising the role in live action, it was an respectable decision that also left many wondering how Disney would find anyone who could match her considerable talents.
Somehow, they did it with Catherine Laga’aia, who is of Samoan descent and seems as if she was born for the role. Not only does Laga’aia look the part, but she has the charisma and vocal talents to match. While the soon-to-be 20-year-old actress doesn’t quite have the top end singing power that Cravalho does, she has a wonderful voice in her own right and certainly performs the now iconic musical numbers with aplomb.
In addition to Laga’aia, Moana’s family is perfectly cast, with John Tui as Moana’s father Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as her mother Sina, and Rena Owen as the lovably chaotic Gramma Tala. Collectively, they form a wonderful Polynesian family unit rarely seen on the Hollywood big screen. They each infuse their characters with emotion, heart and depth that really elevate the family dynamic from the animated version. There are certain moments, like one between Laga’aia’s Moana and Adams’ Sina before Moana leaves the island, that didn’t appear in the animated version, and those additions add much welcome layers to the characters and their relationships.
The strong casting and mutual chemistry make the first third of the film the strongest, with the scenes and musical numbers on the island showcasing the beauty of Polynesian culture. Disney took extra care in ensuring authenticity, bringing in experts as part of its Cultural Trust for the film, and the efforts paid off.
Unfortunately, the other casting decision that serves as the cornerstone of this film is not as strong.
Dwayne Johnson Delivers a Lackluster Performance as Maui
I understand why Disney cast Dwayne Johnson as the live action version of the character he voiced in the original film and why Johnson wanted to reprise the role. Johnson still carries significant star power, which helps off-set the risk of a brand new actress playing Moana. Further, Johnson has talked about how personal this project is for him, drawing inspiration from his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, who was a Samoan wrestler, for the role. It all makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, all of the best intentions aren’t enough and the execution for a role like Maui is especially tricky.
Johnson was, at one point, one of the most popular, admired and charismatic talents in the industry. It’s possible he still is, but he unfortunately he doesn’t show that in this film. Much has been made about his appearance and his hair, which is weirdly commented on in the film in a way that lacks some awareness; almost like they want to show they’re in on the joke. While a good wig isn’t necessarily vital to a successful film, having such an off-putting visual on the film’s biggest star is not a great start. When the first posters and trailers for this film were released, the first thing most audiences noticed was Johnson’s wig, and that visual has defined the narrative on the film throughout.
The hair could easily be overlooked with a great performance, and perhaps that’s what Disney was hoping for. Sure the visual isn’t the best, but if Johnson was strong enough in the film, audiences would forget about the wig. Unfortunately, Johnson delivers a disappointingly muted and uninspiring performance that is a greater misstep than the hair.
The animated Maui, voiced by Johnson, was dynamic, energetic and delightfully mischievous. He’s one of the most fun characters in all of Disney animation. Yet Johnson’s live action version is the opposite. It almost feels like Johnson is too cool and too big of a star to do the fun and silly things that Maui is known for. Instead of Maui brought to life, this version is more like Dwayne Johnson the superstar dressing up as Maui.
The Difficult Transition from Animation to CGI
Johnson’s Maui is not the only part of Moana that didn’t translate well to live action. Moana is a story that is heavily fantastical, with lovable animal characters and epic god-like beings. It’s one thing to show the beauty of Polynesian island life, but it’s another to show mystical elements that defy reality. From the annoying CGI character Hei Hei, to the absurd looking giant crab Tamatoa, there are too many elements in the film that simply did not work.
It’s always challenging to adapt an animal character into live action. Sometimes the characters look too realistic (like in The Lion King), and sometimes they’re overly absurd, making them virtual cartoons. The latter is the case here, where Hei Hei is still used as comic relief but looks like an unconvincing cartoon and, worst of all, just isn’t funny. Even Jermaine Clement, who voiced the original role of Tamatoa and delivered one of the most surprisingly delightful musical numbers in “Shiny,” can’t save this version.
At least the live action version of Pua is cute and cuddly and still serves his main purpose in the story.
The Beauty of the Pacific Shines and the Music Still Hits
The best parts of the film are the live-action depictions of Moana’s family and tribe, and the the beautifully designed costumes and set pieces on Moana’s island.
While animation is certainly an important art form, and the 2016 Moana was a huge breakthrough in cultural representation for Pacific Islanders, seeing all of that represented in live action has an even stronger impact, with actual Polynesian actors playing these roles, singing these songs and genuinely sharing their culture with the rest of the world in a way that animation can’t fully capture. It’s breathtaking and beautiful, much like the islands they represent.
Ultimately, the live action Moana doesn’t quite meet the lofty standards of its source material, but the music from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i still gets your heart pumping. Miranda, Cravalho, Laga’aia and Johnson all join forces for a new original song, “Along the Way,” that plays at the end of the film, and it’s in the same vein as Taylor Swift’s original song at the end of Toy Story 5.In both instances, I find myself wishing that the new music was integrated into the story and given a more prominent role. While I hope the original music inspires audiences to remain through the credits, both songs were worth playing twice, during and after the film.
Rating – 3/5 Pocky
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
