Moana (2026)

Amidst Disney's ongoing series of live-action remakes, the "Moana" adaptation appears to be one of the most redundant. The original animated film is less than a decade old, released in November 2016, and the franchise remains vibrant with "Moana 2" slated for late 2024 and a third animated film in development. However, given "Moana's" immense success and its status as the most-streamed Disney film in the US between 2020 and 2024, a live-action remake seemed an obvious, if uninspired, business decision. Projections suggest it will be a significant revenue generator for Disney, complete with extensive merchandise opportunities, despite an estimated budget exceeding $200 million. The creative effort required for such a project appears minimal.

A cynical inner voice might readily condemn this "Moana" remake and Disney for their blatant lack of originality and for producing a film that offers nothing new, solely for profit, and ultimately fails to surpass the original. Yet, it's difficult for film critics to harshly judge a movie that is almost guaranteed to delight numerous children this summer.

To be fair to Disney, "Moana" is one of the animated-to-live-action adaptations that benefits the most from the transition. Its lush Polynesian landscapes and breathtaking ocean vistas are a significant draw. While not necessarily superior to the animation, it offers the tangible advantage of seeing the story unfold in the real-world locations that inspired it, even if some settings appear to be photorealistic CGI. This contrasts with other live-action remakes, such as "The Lion King," "Snow White," and "The Little Mermaid," which often feature talking animals or fantastical creatures. These films frequently fall into the "uncanny valley," appearing unsettling and less appealing, even uglier, than their colorful animated counterparts.

"Moana," on the other hand, is remarkably successful. While its color palette may be slightly more subdued than the animation, it doesn't feel artificial. Most scenes, from the Polynesian island to the open sea, possess a strong sense of authenticity. The exception is the Tamatoa sequence, which suffers from a glaring "green screen" effect, highlighting how different design choices might have been made if the film had been conceived as live-action from the outset.

In this regard, it can be compared to last year's "How to Train Your Dragon" live-action adaptation. This remake of a relatively recent animated film, which still holds up perfectly today, offers an epic live-action alternative with impressive visual effects and action sequences. It skillfully blends human characters with CGI creatures, ensuring neither feels out of place. The issue arises when one directly compares the 2016 "Moana" with the 2026 version and realizes they are, indeed, the exact same film.

The 2016 "Moana" was already perfect; there was no need to alter, rewrite, or expand upon it. Therefore, the remake's directors made the correct decision by not changing anything, which, paradoxically, underscores how superfluous this new version is. My theory is that Disney fast-tracked this remake so that Dwayne Johnson, now 54, could credibly portray Maui in the live-action rendition and potential sequels before he becomes too old. However, retaining the same actor from the animated film, now sporting a muscle suit and wig, further emphasizes the lack of soul behind this project and the absence of any genuine intention to improve, alter, or enrich the original, or even to offer a single surprising element.

Live-action remakes of classic Disney Princess films like "Snow White," "The Little Mermaid," and "Beauty and the Beast" at least attempt, for better or worse, to add depth to characters who had limited development time in the original animated features and to rectify outdated or conservative elements. Last year's "Lilo & Stitch," again for better or worse, also altered the ending to strengthen the character of Nani, the older sister, and offered a slightly different interpretation of the same narrative.

With "Moana," there was little to adjust, aside from adding a few new jokes (though most remain the same) and a handful of extra lines between Moana and Maui. This makes little difference, as the original's character motivations and development were already flawless. While it's perhaps better that they didn't "ruin" Moana, many viewers are likely to feel disappointed, believing there's no real reason to see this new version when the original is readily available on Disney+. Consequently, there's little to criticize about this live-action "Moana." In fact, it stands as one of Disney's most visually impressive live-action remakes. Thanks to its strong fidelity to the original, everything works seamlessly: the story, the songs, the setting. If you love a film, you'll likely love it regardless of how many times you watch it, and if you love "Moana," you'll probably appreciate this version too. It's just that Disney will love your money even more.