POP-CULTURE
‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes score: Live-action remake in historically bad company
Wajih AlBaroudiFor The Win
July 9, 2026, 11:48 a.m. ET
Disney is starting to pay the price for its lack of creativity. Its latest release is Moana, yet another live-action remake made to satisfy fans’ appetite for nostalgia without taking any meaningful artistic risks
Critics have had enough. Moana is getting absolutely panned with a 37% Rotten Tomatoes critic score with 78 reviews. That makes it one of the lowest-rated Disney live action remakes ever, and that’s saying something considering how bland and instantly forgettable they can be
The writing was on the wall for Moana. From the moment the trailer dropped, memes about Dwayne Johnson’s wig and criticism of the green screen reliance dominated the conversation surrounding the film. Moana having come out just 10 years ago didn’t help, and neither did Moana 2 underwhelming in 2024
With Moana 3 already in development, it’s clear Disney is prioritizing quantity over quality, soiling the reputation of one of its most beloved franchise’s in the process
Where Moana ranks among Disney live-action remakes
Moana is the fourth lowest-rated Disney live-action remake of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, ranking only above Pinocchio (2022), Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) and 102 Dalmatians (2000). It ranks below recent remakes such as Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) and Snow White (2025)
