"Ellendig", "lelijk" en "teleurstellend": reacties op Disney's echte 'Moana' zijn hard, al wordt Dwayne Johnson bejubeld
Thomas Kail brengt 'Moana' met Catherine Laga'aia en Dwayne Johnson terug, maar verdeelt critici.
Volledige recensies komen er waarschijnlijk snel aan, kort voor de officiële Amerikaanse bioscooprelease op 10 juli. Bezoekers en pers mochten wel alvast kort online hun reacties plaatsen. Die reacties zijn vooral verdeeld, met enkele enthousiaste, maar ook opvallend felle afwijzingen van de "echte" remake.
Bekende oceaanreis opnieuw
Regisseur Thomas Kail brengt het verhaal opnieuw tot leven met Catherine Laga'aia als Moana, haar eerste filmrol. Dwayne Johnson keert terug als Maui. Ook Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams en Jemaine Clement zijn betrokken bij de nieuwe versie.
Vooral critici als Matt Neglia, Germain Lussier en Tyler Llewyn Taing reageerden hard. Zij noemen de film te veel een herhaling, trager en donkerder dan de animatie, en visueel teleurstellend. Jonathan Sim ging nog verder en noemde de film "ellendig".
Lichtpunten tussen kritiek
Toch is de toon niet overal negatief. Tessa Smith, Wendy Lee Szany en Rachel Leishman prijzen vooral Laga'aia, die volgens hen veel warmte meebrengt. Ook de chemie met Johnson wordt meermaals genoemd als het sterkste punt van deze nieuwe Moana.
De originele animatiefilm uit 2016 werd een grote hit, met 95 procent op Rotten Tomatoes en 687 miljoen dollar wereldwijd. Moana 2 haalde in 2024 zelfs 1,059 miljard dollar, maar kwam bij critici uit op 61 procent.
Disney's zoveelste remake
De remake past in Disney's lange reeks live-actionversies, waarvan het succes sterk wisselt. Na titels als The Lion King, Aladdin en Lilo & Stitch moet Moana bewijzen dat deze aanpak nog publiek trekt. In Nederland draait de film vanaf vandaag in de bioscopen. Hieronder een overzicht van die online reacties op X.
#Moana (2026) is PATHETIC!
-- Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) July 8, 2026
A shot-for-shot, line-by-line remake without a single original idea. A creatively bankrupt cash grab with ZERO interesting direction. They don't innovate; they imitate.
Why watch this when Moana (2016) is on Disney+?! A soulless, miserable financial... pic.twitter.com/HmeyrJxe3X
If you're curious what #Moana would be like slower, darker & less whimsical, boy, have I got a movie for you.
-- Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 8, 2026
The live-action remake captures some of what made the original so magical with its song scenes, but the rest of it never finds the right tone. Laga'aia innocent. pic.twitter.com/XptkwT9E6p
Honestly a little surprised to admit how much I enjoyed the live-action Moana. Catherine Laga'aia does a great job continuing the legacy (& has incredible comedic chemistry with Dwayne Johnson). There are some truly stunning shots. Gosh I love this story. #Moana pic.twitter.com/ouaxPgTi87
-- Tessa Smith - Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) July 8, 2026
The live-action #Moana is... a movie. It adds nothing the animated original didn't already achieve. It often looks animated anyway, and Dwayne feels uncomfortable as Maui. Catherine Laga'aia shines as Moana though, but this arrived far too soon after the animated films. pic.twitter.com/w51NKJjOYT
-- Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) July 8, 2026
MOANA (2026) takes one Disney's most vibrant films of the revival era and turns it into one of the ugliest movies of the year. The photorealistic style takes more than it gives. Worse, it just doesn't even pretend to have any new ideas.
-- tyler "llewyn" taing (@tylerllewtaing) July 8, 2026
Full review tomorrow for @DiscussingFilm! pic.twitter.com/7klsc944rc
Disney's live-action #Moana is visually stunning. #CatherineLagaaia and #DwayneJohnson's chemistry is the heart of the film, carrying audiences through the journey, while Lin-Manuel Miranda's unforgettable soundtrack pulls you back into this reimagining. Despite some performances... pic.twitter.com/MTBDLO3R0P
-- Klepcx (@Klepcx) July 8, 2026
The live-action #Moana is exactly what you expect: a carbon copy of the original, now with Dwayne Johnson's luscious locks constantly making you wonder, "Why am I not just watching the animated version?"
-- Zach Pope (@ZachhPope) July 8, 2026
At the very least, Catherine Laga'aia is charming! I hoped for more... pic.twitter.com/MKcAglzefs
Like most of Disney's live-action remakes, #Moana stays true to the animated original, delivering familiarity at a slower pace. It's well cast and occasionally finds opportunities to be original, but in general, it's the animated film in live action. pic.twitter.com/Yqb6FbI29l
-- LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) July 8, 2026
#Moana might be one of Disney's best live-action remakes yet. The performances are genuinely great and it carries all the heart, fun, and humor of the original. The story beats hit pretty close to the animated film with fresh dialogue and jokes sprinkled in, but it's hard not to... pic.twitter.com/OmhTqWSd4Z
-- Guy At The Movies (@GuyAtTheMovies_) July 8, 2026
MOANA is the same as the animated. Which is what I've always wanted from these. For the most part it is fun! Got me at the same parts & Lin-Manuel Miranda's music is sublime. Catherine Laga'aia is a perfect Moana but the Rock is out shined by her at every point. Not enough Pua. pic.twitter.com/doZXh2p4Jg
-- Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) July 8, 2026
#Moana follows the Live-Action Disney Adaptation formula for better and for worse. First off Catherine Laga'aia comes into her own as the title character and I really liked her chemistry with The Rock. Some of the musical sequences are effective and will bring back the magic. pic.twitter.com/itYmitM0uW
-- Sam Bussell (@BussellSamuel) July 8, 2026
MOANA (2026) shows just how far Disney will go for a quick and easy buck, producing another unnecessary, nearly shot-for-shot, beat-for-beat live-action remake that doesn't offer anything new that wasn't already done better just ten years ago. The visuals are so flat, with a... pic.twitter.com/wU4Klj2iYn
-- Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 8, 2026
Catherine Laga'aia is charming and talented. She IS the movie. Watching her with a terrific Rena Owen as Gramma Tala is heartwarming They run circles around a certain actor sleepwalking through a reprised role. More enjoyable than Moana 2, but still can't beat the original #Moana pic.twitter.com/wblvr4WRD7
-- The Nerds of Color (@TheNerdsofColor) July 8, 2026
The live-action #Moana remake is very much just that, a remake, that adds very little to the story aside from a change in medium. How they managed to make one of the most beautiful locations on Earth ugly, I will never know, but here we are. Catherine is great. pic.twitter.com/zaDeO5AW5Z
-- Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) July 8, 2026
