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Moana
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02:08
Moana
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- 2026
- Thomas Kail
- 115 mins
- PG
Summary
Young Moana leaves home on a breathtaking ocean adventure, risking everything to restore balance and save her people. Bonus edition of the live-action adaptation starring Dwayne Johnson.
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IMDB
Review
A star rating of 2 out of 5.
Emma Simmonds
A tale of great courage told with great creative cowardice, this live-action remake of the 2016 Disney animation loses so much magic in translation that it can be a spirit-sapping watch. We're once again in the company of plucky Moana (played by Catherine Laga'aia, taking over from voice star Auli'i Cravalho), who sets sail to save her dying Polynesian island home, despite the disapproval of her father Chief Tui (John Tui). To put things right, she must restore the heart of goddess Te Fiti, which was stolen by shapeshifting demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson, appearing in person this time), who assists her on her quest. Director Thomas Kail fails to distinguish this remake in any discernible way, resulting in a near-identical but significantly inferior copy that maroons its humans in unattractive CG landscapes. Johnson is saddled with a distracting wig and his efforts feel like a pale version of his previous, vocal-only performance. Newcomer Laga'aia gives an earnest and likeable turn that's perhaps lacking a little spark, while Rena Owen's twinkly, charismatic work as Moana's mischievous grandmother is a winner. However, there's little value in seeing computer-generated animation transformed into computer-generated "live-action", and the film's desperately unambitious approach is its undoing.
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5.8/10
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Credits
Cast
rolenameMoanaCatherine Laga'aiaMauiDwayne JohnsonGramma TalaRena OwenChief TuiJohn TuiSinaFrankie AdamsTamatoaJemaine Clement
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Crew
rolenameDirectorThomas Kail
Details
Theatrical distributor
Disney
Released on
2026-07-10
Languages
English | Samoan
Formats
Colour
News & features about Moana
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How to watch the live-action Moana – is it streaming?
The hit 2016 musical is the latest Disney animation to get the live action treatment.
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Moana review: A tale of great courage told with creative cowardice ★★☆☆☆
This is a desperately unambitious live-action retelling of the excellent 2016 Disney animation.
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Moana live-action trailer reveals Dwayne Johnson transformation into Maui
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