Has Disney ‘Moana’ remake become latest live action misfire? Live action remake falls below ‘Snow White’

Disney's live action adaptation of Moana has received a difficult start with critics, earning one of the lowest Rotten Tomatoes scores among the studio's modern wave of live action remakes.

The film held a 35% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 published reviews. That places it below 2025's Snow White, which finished with a 39% critics score, and makes Moana one of the lowest rated Disney live action remakes released during the past decade. Among the post 2010 remakes, only Alice Through the Looking Glass and Pinocchio have received lower critics ratings.

The early response marks a sharp contrast with Disney's original animated Moana, which debuted in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim and currently holds a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The animated adventure also became a major commercial success, introducing audiences to Moana, Maui and a soundtrack that remained popular long after its theatrical release.

Much of the criticism surrounding the new adaptation centres on its approach to the source material. Several reviewers have argued that the remake follows the animated story so closely that it offers little reason for audiences to revisit the adventure. Rather than expanding the narrative or presenting a significantly different interpretation, critics say the film largely recreates familiar scenes while losing some of the emotional energy and visual charm that made the animated version stand out.

The visual presentation has also drawn mixed reactions. While the remake uses live action performances combined with computer generated effects, some reviewers believe the colourful animation of the 2016 original remains more visually engaging than the realistic approach taken by the new production.

Dwayne Johnson returns to portray Maui after originally voicing the character in the animated film, making him one of the few major cast members to reprise his role. Disney has promoted the remake as another reimagining of one of its most successful animated properties, continuing a strategy that has produced titles including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Lilo & Stitch.

Attention has also turned to the film's commercial prospects. Early domestic box office projections suggest an opening weekend in the region of $60m, below the five day Thanksgiving debut achieved by the original animated Moana in 2016. Industry reports have also estimated the production budget at between $200m and $250m, meaning strong global ticket sales will likely be needed for the remake to deliver the financial returns Disney expects.

Despite the disappointing early score, the Rotten Tomatoes rating may still change as additional reviews are published. Only 55 critic reviews had been counted when the initial score attracted widespread attention, leaving room for movement before the film reaches a final consensus. However, early ratings often provide a reliable indication of overall critical reception.

The response to Moana also continues a broader conversation surrounding Disney's live action remake strategy. While several adaptations have generated impressive worldwide box office returns despite mixed reviews, others have struggled to satisfy both critics and longtime fans who remain attached to the original animated classics.

Whether audiences ultimately embrace Moana will become clearer once general moviegoers have an opportunity to see the film.