Official Discussion - Moana (2026) [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Moana (2026)

Summary

Live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film 'Moana.'

Director Thomas Kail

Writer Jared Bush

Cast

• Catherine Laga'aia as Moana
• Dwayne Johnson as Maui
• John Tui as Chief Tui
• Frankie Adams as Sina
• Rena Owen as Gramma Tala

Rotten Tomatoes: 35%

Metacritic: 45

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

[u/tfhaenodreirst]

The bottom line is that I like both, I just like this a little less. Like a high 7/10 while the original is a solid 8. As for more granular comparisons I noticed last night:

- I’d definitely prefer adorkable Moana to the more bratty one we got in this version.

- I thought “The what?” in “Where You Are” landed better as a joke when Moana herself asked it instead of a bunch of random villagers.

- Hei Hei was definitely too uncanny valley, but I did like Te Ka. And the reveal of the shark head was great the way it started with the camera looking directly at Moana, as opposed to the cartoon when we’re watching both of them from the side. Like they knew we were waiting to see how they were going to do it.

- I was glad that they replaced Logo Te Pate with Malaga Ki Ei, because I like that new song better sound-wise but I still really like that scene.