Late last week, we reported that the live-action Moana had opened to a rough 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, landing below even last year’s widely panned Snow White remake and putting it among the worst-reviewed Disney live-action films to date. Now that opening weekend has come and gone, the picture has gotten a lot more complicated, and a lot more interesting.
Critics Still Aren’t Fans
The critics’ score has settled at 34%, essentially confirming what we saw earlier in the week. Reviewers have been consistent in their complaints: the remake leans too heavily on the beloved 2016 animated original without bringing much new to the table, Dwayne Johnson’s live-action take on Maui hasn’t landed the way fans hoped, and the CGI has drawn its share of criticism too. It’s a franchise-low critics score for Moana, no question.
But Audiences Are Loving It
Here’s where things get interesting. According to ScreenRant, the live-action Moana has pulled off something no other Moana movie has managed: a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on more than 500 verified ratings. That edges out the original 2016 film’s 89% Popcornmeter score, making this the best audience reception any Moana movie has ever received.
For comparison, here’s how the numbers stack up across the franchise:
| Movie | Critics’ Score | Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| Moana (2016) | 96% | 89% |
| Moana 2 (2024) | 61% | 85% |
| Moana (2026) | 34% | 91% |
That’s a massive 57-point gap between what critics thought and what audiences felt walking out of the theater, one of the widest critic-audience splits Disney has seen with a remake. Interestingly, much of the praise from moviegoers centers on the film staying faithful to the original story, the very thing some critics counted against it for feeling too familiar.
A Box Office Story That Doesn’t Match the Reviews
Despite the audience love, ticket sales haven’t followed. As we covered earlier this week, the film opened to roughly $43 million domestically and $95 million worldwide, well short of projections, and Disney is now looking at a potential loss north of $100 million. Much of that shortfall appears tied to timing. This remake arrived just 19 months after Moana 2, leaving little breathing room between trips to Motunui, and it opened into a stacked July lineup that included Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters.
So where does that leave live-action Moana? Critics weren’t won over, and the box office numbers are rough, but the people actually buying tickets seem to be having a great time. It’s a reminder that Rotten Tomatoes scores, especially early ones, only tell part of the story. We’ll continue following how the audience response holds up as more reviews roll in, and what it might mean for the future of the franchise.
You May Also Enjoy: Sadie Sink Landed Her Secret Spider-Man Role With No Audition and No Script
Mouse Fan Travel® an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, has been planning and creating magical Disney vacations since 2005. Their mission is to provide premium service and expert advice to help you get the most for your vacation time and dollar. Their Disney Travel Agents operate with the highest degree of integrity and will handle your family vacation, reunion, honeymoon, corporate incentive trip or getaway, as if it were their own. They pride themselves on expertly representing and advocating for you – their client.
The next time you and your family are planning a Disney vacation, visit Mouse Fan Travel for your no obligation quote or to answer any Disney vacation questions you may have. Are you looking for a beach vacation, tour or cruise to destinations across the globe? Visit MEI-Travel for exceptional expertise with ZERO agency fees.