Moana Live-Action Arrives July 10: Everything to Know Before You Watch

Disney's live-action Moana, starring newcomer Catherine Laga'aia in the title role and Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, opens exclusively in US theaters on July 10, 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of the original animated film's release.

The production carries a genuinely unusual distinction: Johnson becomes the first Disney performer to originate an animated character and then play that same role in a live-action adaptation. Directed by Thomas Kail, the Tony and Emmy winner behind Hamilton, from a screenplay by original writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film follows Moana as she sails beyond her home island of Motunui for the first time. Lin-Manuel Miranda returns to write the songs, including a new original track, "Along the Way," performed by Laga'aia, Johnson, and Auli'i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films.

Cravalho's involvement is itself a notable storyline. She chose not to reprise the role on screen, saying she wanted to make space for a Pacific Islander actress to originate the live-action version, while staying on as an executive producer and contributing vocally to the new song. Laga'aia, an 18-year-old newcomer from Sydney with Samoan heritage, makes her feature debut in the title role, joined by John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, with Jemaine Clement returning to voice the crab Tamatoa.

The critical reception at release has been notably mixed: the film holds a 36 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from 67 reviews and a 45 out of 100 on Metacritic, a sharp drop from the original animated film's 95 percent "Certified Fresh" rating. That gap places Moana squarely inside Disney's broader live-action remake pattern of the past decade, where critical reception has consistently lagged behind the animated originals regardless of box office performance.

Box office projections suggest the film should still perform commercially despite the reviews: analysts project a $60-65 million domestic opening from roughly 3,875 theaters, with a global opening weekend near $130 million. The film opens one week ahead of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and three weeks ahead of Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

For readers deciding whether to catch it in theaters or wait, the original 2016 Moana and 2024's Moana 2 remain available to stream on Disney+ globally, giving anyone catching up before the live-action version plenty of context on a franchise that has already grossed well over a billion dollars combined across its first two theatrical instalments.

The live-action version's timing also carries symbolic weight beyond the tenth-anniversary framing, part of a broader push by studios to cast more Pacific Islander talent in stories set in and around the region. Laga'aia's casting through what Disney describes as a genuinely global search fits that pattern directly, and her performance will likely be read as a test case for whether that casting philosophy translates into box office and critical reward.

Quick Facts

• US theatrical release: July 10, 2026, in IMAX and premium formats, from roughly 3,875 theaters

• Director: Thomas Kail; songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including new track "Along the Way"

• Lead cast: Catherine Laga'aia (Moana, feature debut) and Dwayne Johnson (Maui)

• Critical reception at release: 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, 45/100 on Metacritic — a sharp drop from the original's 95% score

• Box office projection: $60-65 million domestic opening, roughly $130 million global opening weekend

• International: the 2016 original and Moana 2 stream on Disney+ worldwide; theatrical rollout begins in the US with international dates to follow

FAQs

Who plays Moana in the live-action movie?

Catherine Laga'aia, an 18-year-old newcomer from Sydney with Samoan heritage, plays Moana in her feature film debut.

Why didn't Auli'i Cravalho play Moana in live-action?

She chose not to reprise the role on screen so a Pacific Islander actress could originate the live-action version, while staying involved as an executive producer and performing on the new song.

Is the live-action Moana good?

Critical reception has been mixed, with a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 45/100 on Metacritic, well below the original animated film's 95% rating.

Where can I watch the original Moana movies?

Both the 2016 original and 2024's Moana 2 are available to stream on Disney+ worldwide.