The live action version of Moana, one of Disney's beloved animated classics, had its world premiere at the famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Shortly after the screening, the first reactions to the film began to be shared on social media. However, since critics' official reviews are kept under wraps until July 8, the thoughts shared by audiences and press members paint a mixed picture. Some viewers questioned the necessity of Disney making this film, while the overall reaction appears to be, at best, complicated.

The film is directed by Thomas Kail, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui from the animated film. Catherine Laga’aia takes over the role of princess Moana, previously voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, marking her first appearance in the film. The live action cast also includes Rena Owen, John Tui, and Frankie Adams. Jemaine Clement returns to voice the CGI version of the giant treasure-hunting crab Tamatoa from the first film.

The original Moana animated film, released in 2016, received high ratings from critics (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) and was a major commercial success, grossing $687 million worldwide. It also reached a large audience on the Disney+ platform. The animated sequel Moana 2, released in 2024, achieved even greater success with a box office gross of $1.059 billion, although its rating from critics (61%) was not as high as that of the first film.