Disney’s live-action remake trend has had a rocky track record with critics, but the new Moana may have set a new low bar for the studio.
As of this writing, the live-action Moana sits at just 35% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 55 reviews. That puts it below last year’s widely criticized Snow White, which landed at 39%. In fact, in the post-Alice in Wonderland era of Disney live-action remakes, only two films have scored worse than the new Moana: Alice Through the Looking Glass (29%) and Pinocchio (27%).
Why Are the Reviews So Rough?
The poor reception isn’t exactly a shock. Early social media reactions to Moana were already harsh, with some viewers calling the film “creatively bankrupt.” That’s a sharp contrast to the beloved 2016 animated original, which sits at a stellar 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and is remembered as one of Disney’s strongest modern animated films.
While there’s no official critics consensus published yet, the general sentiment from reviews so far points to one main issue: the live-action version doesn’t bring much new to the table. Rather than offering a fresh take or deeper story, critics say it plays out as a near beat-for-beat retelling of the animated film, without much of the spark that made the original so beloved. The live-action visuals have also drawn criticism, with many reviewers noting they don’t hold up next to the vibrant animation of the 2016 film.
Could This Hurt Moana at the Box Office?
Reviews like these rarely help ticket sales, and Moana’s box office outlook was already modest heading in. Current domestic projections sit around $60 million, well below the $82 million the animated Moana pulled in during its five-day Thanksgiving debut back in 2016. With a production budget reportedly in the $200-250 million range, a soft opening would be a tough outcome for Disney, especially in a summer that’s already seen underperformers like Supergirl.
It’s worth noting that only a small batch of reviews have been counted so far for comparison, Moana 2 has 245 reviews logged on Rotten Tomatoes, versus just 55 for the new live-action film. The score could shift slightly as more reviews roll in, but early numbers like these are typically a strong signal of where a film’s overall reception will land.
We’ll continue to track Moana’s reviews and box office performance as more numbers come in.
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