Ten years after Disney’s animated Moana captured hearts worldwide and became a streaming staple on Disney+, the House of Mouse is taking a bold swing — bringing the beloved Polynesian adventure to life in live-action. Directed by Thomas Kail and starring Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, the 2026 remake arrives with enormous shoes to fill. The original wasn’t just a hit — it became a cultural touchstone, the kind of film families have watched dozens of times on repeat. So the real question isn’t whether this new version is good. It’s whether remaking a near-perfect animated film in live-action adds anything worth seeing — or risks tarnishing something audiences already love.
Disney has a complicated relationship with its own catalog. For every “Cinderella” remake that quietly works, there’s a “Lion King” that leaves audiences asking why it needed to exist. Moana sits in a more dangerous category — it’s not old enough to feel nostalgic, and it’s beloved enough that tampering with it feels risky. The animated original is still actively streaming, still actively loved. This isn’t a remake of a dusty classic. It’s a do-over of something that wasn’t broken.
To his credit, director Thomas Kail didn’t try to reinvent the voyage — he stayed faithful to the animated blueprint while making enough deliberate changes to justify the remake’s existence. The core story beats remain intact, and the three signature songs that defined the original are all present, giving fans the familiarity they came for. Kail did weave in one new song, a fresh addition that slots naturally into the narrative without feeling forced. Where the 2026 version genuinely earns its place is in the technical execution. The digital work bringing Maui’s living tattoos to life on Dwayne Johnson’s chest is nothing short of stunning — it’s one of those moments where you forget you’re watching a visual effect and just accept it as part of the world. The Kakamora, those terrifying little coconut pirates, translate from animation to live-action with surprising menace, and the action sequences involving Tamatoa crackle with an energy that the format handles better than expected. But the unexpected scene-stealer of the entire film? Hei Hei. The gloriously useless chicken who somehow always ends up in the middle of everything is, without question, the most entertaining presence on screen in the 2026 version. Whether that says something about the comedy writing or just the universal appeal of a confused rooster on a boat — either way, Hei Hei delivers every single time.
For a film carrying the weight of one of Disney’s most beloved soundtracks, the 2026 Moana manages to land where it counts. The original score remains intact — including the Grammy Award-winning “How Far I’ll Go,” which hits just as hard in live-action as it did a decade ago. That alone will satisfy longtime fans who couldn’t imagine the story without it. Ultimately, this remake did better than it had any right to. Thomas Kail respected the source material, the technical achievements are genuinely impressive, and Dwayne Johnson brings enough charisma to make Maui feel lived-in rather than imitated. But here’s the honest truth — the animated original isn’t going anywhere, and it doesn’t need to. The 2026 version works best when you stop comparing and just let it breathe as its own experience.
Is it worth watching? Yes. Does it replace the animated classic? Not a chance. And maybe that’s okay. Some films earn their place not by topping what came before, but by reminding you why you fell in love with the story in the first place. Moana 2026 does exactly that. This film is in theaters July 10th.
I rate it a (2.5/4) 🍿
Expressing my opinion
Chief Editor