Moana Starring The Rock Looks Set To Be Disney's Latest Live-Action Disaster

The live-action remake of Moana, which sees The Rock reprise his role as Maui, has not been received well by critics ahead of its theatrical release.

According to movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the 2026 Moana has a rating of 36% based on 70 critical reviews. The main issue with the remake is that it is uncannily similar to the original 2016 Disney animated movie, but with none of the charm that the original had. British newspaper The Daily Telegraph stated that the movie could have been made with a ChatGPT prompt, while The Radio Times claimed that as it was too recent to the original, it is nothing more than a financially motivated move.

The third instalment in the franchise comes shortly after Moana 2, which was released in November 2024 and generated $1bn (£784m) worldwide at the box office. By contrast, the live-action remake is now projected to generate $65 million and $80 million.

The film has been met with criticism and some mockery ever since the promotional material was released. Along with the questionable CGI used in the trailer, many found humour in the wig worn by Dwayne Johnson to play demigod Maui.

Moana looks set to be the latest Disney live-action adaptation to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Previously panned movies include remakes of Snow White, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.

Live Action Moana Looks Set To Join List Of The Rock’s String Of Flops

Although the former WWE Champion was at one point the biggest star in Hollywood and in massive franchises such as Fast and Furious and Jumanji, latter movies have not it the same way. The likes of Jungle Cruise, Black Adam, and Red One were not huge hits financially or critically. While The Smashing Machine was viewed as one of The Rock’s best performances, it was not a hit at the box office or when awards season rolled around.

The Rock’s next role was recently announced, where he will play a motorcycle stunt rider.