The ‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes Critic Review Score Is A Disney Disaster

17 articles, oldest first.

1. The Hollywood Reporter

   Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’: First Reactions From Premiere ↗ (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   The film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia, hits theaters on July 10.

2. The Hollywood Reporter

   ‘Moana’ Review: Captivating Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia and a Game Dwayne Johnson Invigorate One of Disney’s Better Live-Action Remakes ↗ (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   Thomas Kail directs this reimagining of the hit 2016 animated feature about a plucky Polynesian teenager’s coming of age, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

3. Deadline

   ‘Moana’ Review: Disney’s Live-Action Remake Runs Aground ↗ (opens Deadline)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

   Deadline's feed description

   Disney’s remake of Moana, a film a mere 10 years old, dares to question what “live-action” even means. Thomas Kail’s 2026 edition is neither alive nor particularly propulsive in any discernible way, with the vast majority of scenes filmed against garish and poorly done backdrops or else with, ironic…

4. Rolling Stone

   ‘Moana’ is Peak Disney Déjà Vu ↗ (opens Rolling Stone)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   Why is the Mouse House still ruining its landmark animated movies with pointless live-action remakes? (Hint: $$$)

5. UPI

   Movie review: 'Moana' remake degrades the original ↗ (opens UPI)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   "Moana," in theaters Friday, trades the beautiful animation for lackluster backgrounds, rendering the epic adventure as a static exercise.

6. Variety

   ‘Moana’ Review: The First Disney Live-Action Remake That Works 100% ↗ (opens Variety)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   "Moana" is a Disney live-action remake that escapes the Disney live-action remake blues — in fact, it soars above them. It’s the best of these movies I’ve seen.

7. The Guardian

   Moana review – Dwayne Johnson’s demigod on autopilot in dull live-action remake ↗ (opens The Guardian)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   Johnson reprises his role from the original animation and has fine rapport with his young co-star Catherine Laga’aia, but the whole enterprise feels cynical and pointless Disney’s animated super-hit Moana from 2016 – having been followed up by a dull sequel two years ago – now gets a competent but b…

8. Forbes

   The ‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes Critic Review Score Is A Disney Disaster ↗ (opens Forbes)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   The Moana live-action movie Rotten Tomatoes score is in, and it is absolutely not what Disney wants to see ahead of its opening weekend.

9. Forbes

   ‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Slam Live-Action Adaptation Of Disney Hit ↗ (opens Forbes)

   Published Jul 8, 2026

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   Moana, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Catherine Lagaʻaia, is back on the big screen but in a live-action setting, but Rotten Tomatoes critics aren’t too thrilled about it.

10. CNET

    'Moana' Review: A Disney Live-Action Remake That's Actually Worth Your Time ↗ (opens CNET)

    Published Jul 8, 2026

    CNET's feed description

    Moana is an absolute blast thanks to solid performances by Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson, who is simply magical as demigod Maui.

11. Forbes

    Moana’s Record Rotten Tomatoes Score Should Give Disney Pause ↗ (opens Forbes)

    Published Jul 9, 2026

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    Moana is a huge bomb with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and if that translates into box office, that should cause Disney to rethink its recent strategy.

12. Washington Times

    Disney's live-action 'Moana' opens to one of studio's worst Rotten Tomatoes scores ever ↗ (opens Washington Times)

    Published Jul 9, 2026

    Washington Times's feed description

    Disney's live-action remake of "Moana" has landed among the lowest-rated titles in the studio's live-action remake catalogue. As of Wednesday, the film's Rotten Tomatoes score sat at 35% based on 55 reviews, putting it below last year's widely panned "Snow White," which settled at 39%.

13. Breitbart News

    Nolte: Live-Action ‘Moana’ Looks Like Another Flop for the Disney Grooming Syndicate ↗ (opens Breitbart News)

    Published Jul 9, 2026

    Breitbart News's feed description

    The Disney Grooming Syndicate’s live-action version of Moana is getting hammered equally by critics and box office projections.

14. Fox News

    Live-action remake of 'Moana' gets ravaged by critics in latest blow to Disney Studios ↗ (opens Fox News)

    Published Jul 9, 2026

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    The live-action "Moana" remake debuted at 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling Dwayne Johnson's wig laughable and the film purposeless.

15. Fox News

    Disney faces another box office shipwreck with 'Moana' remake on track to follow 'Snow White' to the bottom ↗ (opens Fox News)

    Published Jul 9, 2026

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    Disney's live-action "Moana" remake landed a 39% Rotten Tomatoes score as critics question why the studio remade a film less than a decade old.

16. Breitbart News

    Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Debuts With 35 Percent Review Rating, Facing Historically Bad Opening Weekend ↗ (opens Breitbart News)

    Published Jul 10, 2026

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Disney's live-action remake of "Moana" seems to be on track to a disappointing opening, with one of the lowest takes for a live-action Disney adaptation on opening weekend. And the reviews are just as bad.

17. Insider

    All 20 Disney live-action remakes ranked from tolerable to downright unwatchable ↗ (opens Insider)

    Published Jul 10, 2026

    Insider's feed description

    Disney is committed to remaking its animated classics as live-action films, even though they're almost always mediocre, including its latest, "Moana."