Disney released the live version of “Moana” in July 2026, and the film generated mixed reviews from critics and fans. Now, almost a month later, Dwayne Johnson is breaking his silence on the reception, noting that while some disliked the direction of the movie, many fans appreciated it.
Johnson spoke to PEOPLE in August 2026, with the actor being asked about the reaction to the most recent “Moana” film. He stated, “Our first two reviews came out; I’ll never forget it… They were amazing. I was like, wow.”
However, after the initial positivity, Johnson says that the reaction “went another way,” before saying, “as sometimes happens.”
Dwayne Johnson Is Proud Of The Live Action ‘Moana’
GettyRegarding the reaction to “Moana,” the film currently sits at a 31% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Johnson, “That’s just the way it goes because we’re in this business.” He then shared that he and his wife “had a lot of these conversations at home, at the kitchen island late at night when the babies are asleep.”
Johnson continued reflecting, saying, “The challenge was, okay, let’s remember, though, what’s going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let’s remember what’s happening right now and the noise that’s happening right now.”
He then addressed the mixed reviews directly, saying, “If you love it, great. If you don’t, no problem.” To him, what “really mattered” was that “the culture really stood up,” regarding the movie’s Polynesian influences.
He added, “Because of me and our kids who can now look at the big screen and go, ‘That’s us for the first time on a big screen. That’s us up there. How cool is that?'”
Johnson’s wife, Lauren Hashian, also chimed in, stating, “The whole community, the whole culture really showed up, and they understood. Even if you’re not Polynesian, I think we can understand family and love and loss and perseverance — especially as a mom. Having kids and watching it through their eyes, for me, it’s very magical.”
The Live Action Disney Movie Has Solid Reviews From Fans
Disney/GettyAs mentioned, despite the overall criticism of the live-action “Moana” film, many who have seen it stand by its quality. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 88% positive rating, based on more than 1,000 reviews. This is a much better reaction than official critics gave the movie, with its 31% in that regard based on 192 reviews.
Regarding its box office, which Johnson alluded to, the movie opened with $43 million from 3,827 US theaters. This figure was enough to earn it the number one spot for the weekend. “Moana” had a production budget of $250 million, per Variety. This does not include marketing costs, which often come near the budget to make the movie.
According to Box Office Mojo, to date, the movie has made $ 264,674,590.
His Next ‘Jumanji’ Film Has a Release Date
Johnson has multiple projects on the horizon following “Moana.” The first to be released will be “Jumanji: Open World,” which will arrive in movie theaters in December 2026. Sony unveiled the first official trailer for the new film in July 2026.
Additionally, he will appear in “Fast Forever,” which is scheduled to be released in 2028.
