Well, the summer movie season is almost over, and we now know that the movies of the summer were 1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is a box office phenomenon, and 2. The Odyssey, which is now the highest-grossing R-Rated movie ever. Do you know what movie didn't make a big splash, though? The live-action Moana.

In fact, things were looking so dire before Spider-Man and The Odyssey that I questioned if we would even HAVE a movie of the summer, with Moana's massive failure being one of the reasons I thought that. However, my question is, why did Disney bet on Moana when Encanto was right there?

Sure, like Moana, Encanto is also a relatively recent Disney movie (it came out in 2021), but I think it would have done WAY better if it had gotten the live-action treatment. Here's why.

Firstly, Encanto Would Be A Lot More Interesting, Visually, Than Moana In Live-Action

Look, I love Moana as much as the next person (I consider it a modern Disney classic), but one thing I would never say is that it’s super visually appealing. Sure, Maui's tattoos and transformations are cool, and Te Ka is an interesting antagonist, but otherwise, I think the movie is visually kind of bland. Just my opinion, of course.

This doesn't necessarily translate well to live-action, either. Seeing shots of Dwayne Johnson wearing a silly wig and countless shots of the ocean don't scream “must see in theaters!” However, one Disney movie that is a visual treat for the eyes is Encanto, which I think could have produced a rather impressive trailer to garner interest.

Because with the magical Madrigal family (Say that three times fast), those visuals could go a long way. Like, I would love to see who they would cast to play the brawny Luisa Madrigal. Would they get a bodybuilder, or would they use CGI? Or, what about Isabela Madrigal, who can control plants? Would they get the legend John Leguizamo to play Bruno? I just think they could have done a lot in a live-action space, visually speaking, that Moana never could, and that could have gone a long way to making it stand out more.

It Also Didn't Have A Fairly Recent Sequel Like Moana, So People Would Likely Warm Up To It More

I mentioned earlier how Moana, which originally came out in 2016, is fairly recent for a live-action adaptation, but it also had a sequel, Moana 2, which came out in 2024! That's WAY too soon to make a live-action adaptation of the original. For one thing, I think it's safe to say that even though Moana 2 did great at the box office, it didn't resonate with people like the original did. In fact, a lot of people think it's kind of mediocre.

That's not a great reputation to springboard off of, unfortunately. Plus, the recency of Moana 2 didn’t allow people to really miss the franchise (and yes, it’s a franchise now). Encanto, on the other hand, has been away long enough for people to say, “Oh, yeah. I remember that movie,” and in a positive way. And while yes, I know it was considered a financial disappointment at the box office (it made around $257 million worldwide), it gained a positive reputation on Disney+ and has since become one of the more well-known Disney films in recent memory.

We also can’t forget about the sensation that was “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”. Yes, people HAVE stopped talking about Bruno, but a live-action adaptation of the film could bring back some of that magic, especially if they played a stripped-down, piano rendition in a trailer. Seriously, why HAVEN’T we gotten this live-action movie yet? Because in the end, Encanto would have been a much bolder choice for a live-action adaptation (Though, not as bold as Big Hero 6) than Moana, and thus, possibly a bigger hit in the long run.

It’s no secret that the Moana films are close to the heart of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The movies from Disney have allowed the multi-hyphenate to be loud and proud about his Polynesian culture in a big way. But I just learned more about how the live-action Moana allowed The Rock to connect to the “complicated relationship” he had with his late father, Rocky Johnson, as well.

For the live-action Moana movie, Johnson had the opportunity to co-write and sing a sweet song called “Your Dad” for the Moana: Voices of the Ocean album. It’s a sweet track that shows the warmth of being a father. Here’s what The Rock said about the song to SiriusXM:

The Rock’s dad was a pioneering Canadian professional wrestler who won multiple championships in his heyday. The movie star looked up to his dad growing up, and clearly was inspired by him when it came to his own career. But at the same time, as Dwayne Johnson has detailed in the past, he was also very tough on him.

“Your Dad” offers a supportive message to Johnson’s three daughters that perhaps he never heard from his own father, who died in 2020 at the age of 75. As he added:

It sounds like writing and performing the song was cathartic for Dwayne Johnson, who’s trying to learn from his late father now that he’s a dad himself. Johnson has a 25-year-old named Simone, a 10-year-old named Jasmine and an 8-year-old named Tiana. You can check out the song “Your Dad” below:

The Moana-inspired album isn’t the first time The Rock has confronted his relationship with his dad. Joseph Lee Anderson also played Rocky Johnson in his autobiographical sitcom on NBC, Young Rock, which was on for three seasons. Johnson’s relationship with his father has clearly been an important aspect of his life that he’s felt compelled to explore through his work, and knowing how it’s connected to Moana is something I didn’t realize.

The live-action Moana hit theaters last month to tons of reactions calling it “unnecessary”, and the movie made just $293.7 million worldwide against a reported $250 million budget. Despite the flop, The Rock has stood by the live-action movie because it allowed a Polynesian cast to be front-and-center on the big screen. And, without it, “Your Dad” may have never had a reason to come to fruition.

What sweet, vulnerable words from Johnson! Next, he has the new Jumanji movie coming out on Christmas Day among other upcoming The Rock movies.

At this point, you’d have to be living under a rock to miss Disney’s dedication to live action remakes. Some have been huge successes, but others have unfortunately not done so hot. While Moana seemed like an easy win among this summer's release, but it didn’t go the way the studio was likely hoping. However, despite the movie not doing well at the box office, star Dwayne Johnson still feels pretty positive about the work he put in, recently sharing the silver lining of the live-action Moana reception.

Apparently, the actor had some late night conversations with his wife Lauren Hashian, about remembering “why the movie was made” to begin with. Honestly, I expected the lackluster reception to hit the actor quite a bit harder, but Johnson’s answer to People is on brand. It's a nice reminder that actors take roles for meaning that goes beyond numbers. Here's how he felt about the critical reception:

The actor shared that when the first two reviews came out, they were “amazing,” but things quickly ended up going “another way.” Unfortunately, Moana only grossed over $263 million, and didn’t do so hot well in reviews. The live action flick has only a 31% approval from critics. Many shared the same complaints, calling the movie an “unnecessary shot-for-shot, beat-for-beat live action remake.”

Despite this, Johnson continues to push back against the negativity surrounding the film, defending that regardless it gets the Polynesian culture on the screen. The actor has previously stated, “it’s another [thing] to give Pacific Islanders jobs and opportunities and really represent their culture in a flesh and blood way on screen," and I'm happy to see he remains dedicated to this sentiment.

The actor has been an advocate for filming in Hawaii and getting the Polynesian culture on the big screen as much as possible -- even if he’s not part of the production. Last year, Disney was the first to reach $1 billion at the box office with its Lilo & Stitch live action. At the time, he gave the film a “grateful congrats" and helped to champion that live action flick's success.

Moana won't be his last chance to represent Hawaii. The actor has a film in the works with Martin Scorsese that is inspired by real events that took place on the islands. The movie will explore a Hawaiian mob boss in competition with rivals as well as mainland corporations. To Johnson the most important part of the movie is its focus on “the reclamation of Polynesian culture.” This makes me want to immediately check the crime saga out, and it's yet another example of him repping the culture more than the box office.

Meanwhile, the actor has several other films in development, including the long-awaited Jumanji sequel. Open World is set to hit 2026 movie release schedule Christmas Day and we can check out Johnson reuniting with Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan in the trailer.

The sequel also gives representation to Hawaii as parts of Jumanji were filmed on the islands. And I can't wait to see it!

There have now been five titles from the 2026 movie calendar to cross into billion-dollar territory, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey continuing to rake in the box office bucks. After celebrating the biggest domestic opening ever, the newest MCU product followed it up with a historic second weekend, adding $145 million to its North American pull.

The Odyssey, meanwhile, continues to soar as well, becoming a huge part of Christopher Nolan’s legacy as it achieves its own 10-digit milestone. Several new releases are peppered into the Top 10 — including an unexpected showing from a movie (?) of cat videos.

I’ll break down all the details below, but first take a look at the weekend’s Top 10 at the domestic box office. (* denotes a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: August 7-9, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Continues To Weave Its Way Into Hollywood History

After just 10 days, Tom Holland’s third Marvel Spider-Man movie is already the 12th highest-grossing movie of all time, per Box Office Mojo, with its $655 million domestic total combining with $1.01 billion internationally for $1.665 billion worldwide. It’s in a virtual tie with 2015’s Jurassic World ($1.671 billion) and destined to break into the all-time Top 10 soon, when it surpasses current No. 10 Inside Out 2 ($1.699 billion) from 2024.

The six days Brand New Day took to reach 10 figures is the second fastest after Avengers: Endgame, which crossed $1 billion in its first three days.

That’s not where the milestones end, either. With $145 million in its sophomore weekend, Spider-Man: Brand New Day made more than nearly every other 2026 movie’s opening weekend (the exception being Toy Story 5’s $159.7 million). Variety reports it is only the eighth movie in history to make over $100 million in its second outing.

The newest MCU Spidey flick also boasts the third-highest-grossing sophomore weekend in domestic box office history, falling behind only Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($149 million in 2015) and Avengers: Endgame ($147 million in 2019).

Brand New Day’s numbers are so strong that after 10 days we can already start wondering where it will land amongst the highest-grossing movies of all time. Star Wars: The Force Awakens holds that title in the U.S. and Canada with $936.6 million, while globally Avatar ($2.9 billion) and Avengers: Endgame ($2.7 billion) are Nos. 1 and 2 after seeing several re-releases.

The Odyssey Is Officially Christopher Nolan’s Highest-Grossing Movie

The Odyssey continues to soar after four weekends in theaters, with $461 million domestically combining with $643.6 million overseas for a total of $1.104 billion. This may not be director Christpher Nolan’s first foray into the billions, but it is already the highest he’s ever gotten. This week his Homer adaptation overtook 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises ($1.08 billion) and 2009’s The Dark Knight ($1.008 billion).

But wait, there’s more! Other milestones for The Odyssey include (per Deadline):

• The Odyssey is the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie after Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.33 billion global and $636.7 million domestic).
• It’s the most successful R-rated movie of 2026, worldwide and in North America.
• In addition to Christopher Nolan, it’s also the highest-grossing movie globally in Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson’s careers.

Now Let’s Talk About Cat Videos

I might have done a double-take when I saw CatVideoFest 2026 as the 10th-ranked movie for this week. I’m not judging, just didn’t see it coming. The film in question is a 70-minute compilation of “the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.”

The movie was shown in just 255 theaters this weekend, where it earned an impressive $568K and a spot on the domestic Top 10. Even on a week when we’ve got epic Spider-Man stories as well as literal epics, never ever underestimate the power of a cat video.

Other New Releases See Disappointing Debuts

CatVideoFest 2026 wasn’t the only new release this weekend. A few other titles made their debut, but with so many moviegoers still flocking to the flicks I discussed above, there wasn’t much left to go around. One Night Only took the No. 3 spot, earning $5.7 million. That was below projections of up to $10 million.

Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro’s movie was “too creepy to be cute,” according to the reviews, and now One Night Only is getting roasted for its lack of sex, BUT there’s hope for this rom-com yet. Audiences liked the movie more than critics did (see the chart below), and Will Gluck’s previous movie Anyone But You ended up being a box office success despite negative reviews. Maybe lightning can strike twice.

Super Troopers 3, meanwhile, had the least-successful opening of Broken Lizard’s trilogy. Its $4 million domestic debut fell behind the first Super Troopers, which earned $6.2 million in 2001. Meanwhile, 2018’s Super Troopers 2 raked in $15.2 million in three days.

The Ice Cream Man earned just $2 million after bad reviews suggested it might be the worst horror movie in a strong year for freaky flicks. Did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences agree?

Tony And Camp Miasma Crush In Limited Release

This week’s wide releases may have been disappointing, but two new films in limited release have reason to be happy. A24's critically acclaimed Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, earned $348K on just six screens this weekend, while Hannah Einbinder’s new slasher Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma got $251K from five screens. The newest film from Jane Schoenbrun was also loved by critics, and I can’t wait for both of these to go wide on August 21.

Next week brings more new releases, but nothing that will challenge Spider-Man: Brand New Day or The Odyssey for gold or silver. We’ll have to see where The End of Oak Street with Anne Hathaway and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie land. See you back here next week!

Disney is a behemoth force in the entertainment industry, one that is constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Unfortunately, some of the big summer movies have failed to make money at the box office. But even though The Mandalorian and Grogu is lowest earning Star Wars movie and the live-action Moana failed at the box office, Disney's CEO explained why it's not all bad.

When The Mandalorian and Grogu underperformed, it definitely turned the heads of fans who grew up on the galaxy far, far away. Add in the live-action Moana's poor reviews and disappointing box office performance, and some folks might think that the House of Mouse is in trouble. But during the company's earnings call (via Variety) CEO Josh D’Amaro shared some silver lining. In his words:

This is a perspective that might be lost on moviegoers, who only see how full theaters are and how much money each new release ultimately makes. But while Moana and Mando might have not made as much money at the box office as intended, there are other ways that those titles financially contributed to Disney as a whole. And as such, live-action Disney adaptations and upcoming Star Wars movies might not be in jeopardy after all.

So how exactly did these two movies service the studio, despite its poor performance in theaters? In the same earnings call, D’Amaro got into the details, saying:

Honestly, this does track. Because even if The Mandalorian and Grogu didn't make enough money at the box office, it helped sell a ton of merchandise. What's more, it also helped bring people back to a revamped version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney's parks.

And while not everyone ran to theaters to see the live-action Moana, it's almost guaranteed to be a hit when it arrives on Disney+. These beloved kids movies tend to be re-watched over and over again by families on the streaming service, so the studio could end up getting its moneys worth after all.

It remains to be seen when both Moana and The Mandalorian and Grogu end up streaming over on Disney+. For now, the latter can be purchased and rented on digital. We'll just have to wait and see what comes next for these two franchises.

I fear we've all fallen victim to some kind of reverse Doctor Strange spell, because looking at this weekend’s Box Office numbers, our memories appear to have been erased of everyone except Peter Parker. To say Spider-Man: Brand New Day dominated ticket sales is quite the understatement, as the new MCU movie soared past expectations to earn $355 million in its first three days — the second biggest opening weekend in history. And, it’s already approaching $1 billion worldwide.

We’ve got to break down these Marvel-ous numbers, but I also want to talk about The Odyssey, which held its own after three cycles, especially considering the competition. (Maybe Spidey fans did end up doing a Barbenheimer-esque double feature!)

Olivia Wilde also had a big weekend, with I Want Your Sex being the only new release other than Brand New Day. First, take a peek at the weekend’s Top 10, then we’ll get into it all. (* denotes a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: July 31-August 2

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Approaches $1 Billion With Second-Biggest Debut In Box Office History

In North America, Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s $355 million puts it in second place all-time for biggest opening weekend behind the $357 million earned in 2019 by fellow Marvel product Avengers: Endgame. The numbers are so close, in fact, that when they're finalized Monday, Spidey might just come out on top.

It has been surpassing expectations, after all! The highest projections I saw a week ago topped out at $300 million, and even that seemed like a stretch. Until now, no other movie had come close to that mark in its first three days, with the closest being Spider-Man: No Way Home’s now-third-place $260 million domestic debut in 2021.

The news only gets better for Marvel and Sony Pictures — the international box office added a whopping $572 million for a worldwide total of $927 million. It and The Odyssey will become the fourth and fifth movies to cross into 10 digits (more on that further down). Which will get there first, and will it happen this week?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s $927 million global opening is the second-highest in that category, too, also behind Avengers: Endgame, which brought in $1.2 billion in its first three days.

It goes without saying that this is far and away the most successful of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man offerings, but how will its theatrical run compare to the others?

The mystery of Sadie Sink’s character was one secret fueling fan interest going into this weekend. I won’t spoil anything here, but you can read all about Brand New Day’s big Sink reveal here. There was also a lot of curiosity surrounding how Doctor Strange’s spell from No Way Home would be handled. How does this work if MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) really have forgotten Peter Parker? (Brand New Day’s ending is explained here, discussing that very issue, and don't miss our breakdown of the post-credit scene).

Even with those topics circulating the Internet now, I don’t think this title will be going anywhere for a while, especially with good reviews only likely to attract any holdouts from this weekend, as well as repeat viewings. Speaking of those reviews ...

The Odyssey Helps To Fuel Biggest Collective Box Office Ever

Is it safe to say that the only actors who matter right now are Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal? OK, probably not, but in addition to the trio starring together in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, they’re also part of The Odyssey’s ridiculous cast. Given how much money Spidey earned this weekend, it’s impressive there were enough people left to give Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation another $51 million.

So far The Odyssey has earned $395.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $515.9 million overseas, combining for a worldwide total of $911.4 million.

Through their powers combined, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey have led to the biggest collective box office in history, with all films bringing in a total of over $425 million this weekend, per Variety). The previous high was led by (naturally) Avengers: Endgame for a weekend of $402 million.

Olivia Wilde Goes Back-To-Back With Two In The Top 10

Olivia Wilde’s critically acclaimed The Invite continues to be an indie hit for the director and star, as it holds strong in the Top 10 after eight weekends in theaters (six in wide release). So far. it’s earned $22.8 million domestically and was approaching $40 million worldwide on a budget of $6 million. But that’s not all.

Olivia Wilde starred in another of the Top 10 flicks this week — I Want Your Sex — which earned $600,000. That was good enough for 8th place, just below The Invite. The actress has strong thoughts about how sex is portrayed in film, and between this erotic comedy thriller and the Seth Rogen dramedy, she’s definitely got people talking about sex this summer.

Looking Ahead To Next Week's Releases

There's no doubt we'll still be talking about Spider-Man: Brand New Day next weekend, but there are some fun new flicks hitting the 2026 movie calendar. The Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, for one, hits theaters on Friday, August 7, and with positive reviews for Dominic Sessa's portrayal of the late chef, the upcoming A24 movie is looking at an opening between $7 million and $10 million, according to Box Office Pro.

We're also looking forward to One Night Only, Eli Roth's Ice Cream Man, Super Troopers 3 and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson. Whichever flick you choose to see, these sound like a blast.

This weekend saw no new big releases sandwiched between last week’s The Odyssey premiere and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. However, just because the Top 3 stayed the same doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of cause for celebration and introspection in this week’s Box Office breakdown. Toy Story 5 crossed $1 billion globally and now stands as the highest-earning movie in the franchise domestically. But how does its pull compare to 2026’s other juggernauts?

We’ll discuss all of that below, as well as The Odyssey’s second weekend in release, as it raked in another $87 million in the U.S. and Canada (per The Numbers). That’s quite impressive, even considering the competition wasn’t exactly fierce.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 chart, then we’ll get into what it all means. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: July 24-26, 2026

Toy Story 5 Is Now The Biggest Release Of 2026 So Far

The new Toy Story sequel brought in another $10 million domestically this weekend, officially making the fifth installment the franchise’s highest-grossing film domestically, with $448.6 million after eight weekends in theaters. That surpasses the $443 million that Toy Story 4 earned in 2019.

Adding in the $573.5 million it’s compiled from overseas markets, Toy Story 5 has now earned a global total of $1.022 billion, making it the third of Buzz and Woody’s flicks to cross into 10 digits. It’s still got a little work to do there, as it falls behind Toy Story 4’s $1.071 billion and Toy Story 3’s $1.068 billion.

However, its worldwide earnings are enough to move it into first place amongst 2026 movie releases. Toy Story 5 is the third movie to cross the billion-dollar mark, surpassing both Michael ($1.015 billion) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($1.011 billion).

No Sophomore Slump For The Odyssey’s Ticket Sales

Not to be outdone, The Odyssey looks to be on its way to $1 billion as well after posting astounding second-weekend numbers. The $87 million it earned in North America from Friday to Sunday was a mere 27% drop from opening weekend. It wouldn’t have been surprising to see the Christopher Nolan epic lose about half of its audience — especially given its R rating.

Not allowing younger viewers in without an adult may be justifiable given some of The Odyssey’s horrifying sequences, but it can also lead to upset fans and less box office moolah.

The adaptation of Homer’s epic, however, said, “no tweens, no teens, no problem,” as Variety reports Matt Damon’s The Odyssey had the second-biggest sophomore outing domestically for an R-rated movie after Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Deadpool & Wolverine. That 2024 MCU product reportedly earned $96 million in its second weekend following a $221 million debut.

When you combine The Odyssey’s $286.4 million stateside with an international total of $353.2 million, the movie has earned a cumulative $639.6 million after just 10 days on the big screen.

It’s safe to say Christopher Nolan has justified that gigantic $250 million budget. It’s also worth pointing out that the Oscar-winning director’s latest project earned more in its second week ($87 million) than Oppenheimer did in its 2024 debut ($82 million). Obviously, that’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, since Odysseus isn’t competing against Barbie or any other huge IP — yet.

Hadestown: The Musical Scores Earns Extended Run In Theaters

The Odyssey may have scared off any big releases for this week, but Hadestown: The Musical provided an option for those who are craving more stories from Greek mythology (maybe that’s your double feature!). Director Brett Sullivan brought the live stage recording to theaters, combining the five principal cast members from the original Broadway run with the actors from its West End production.

While Hadestown: The Musical was only slated for a five-day run in theaters, high demand and $9.7 million in box office earnings has reportedly inspired distributors to add additional dates and showtimes.

Alan Ritchson's Motor City was this weekend's other new release to make the Top 10, after the dialogue-free flick received mixed reviews. Audiences seemed to agree, as it holds a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter, compared to its critics' Tomatometer score of 64%.

My Spidey Senses Are Tingling ...

We're just days away from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but how big will its box office debut be? Projections earlier this month were as low as $180 million for the three-day premiere weekend; however, ticket pre-sales have caused those estimates to rise well into the $200 millions. I've even seen predictions as high as $300 million. Regardless of where it falls, there's no denying next weekend is going to be huge.

Brand New Day follows the events of 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, which earned $260 million domestically on opening weekend. The first two movies in Tom Holland's MCU era, Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019), earned significantly less, debuting to $117 million and $92.6 million, respectively.

Make sure to get your tickets to Spider-Man: Brand New Day early, and then join me back here next Sunday to see the effect the upcoming Marvel movie has on the rest of the box office.

No R-rating nor nearly three-hour runtime could stop Matt Damon and The Odyssey from reigning over the Box Office this weekend. The crown was rightfully returned to Christopher Nolan’s head for his book-to-screen adaptation of the Homer epic. The film defied the limits of experts’ projections to earn $124.5 million in North America over its first three days, becoming the third-best premiere to hit the 2026 movie calendar.

Meanwhile, the family friendly flicks' successes continued to suggest kids (and their adult companions) are escaping the summer heat by hitting the movie theater. Moana took second-place honors, but it was too close to call between Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters, which earned $14.8 million apiece. They may have tied for bronze, but the Disney/Pixar product crossed one big milestone this week and is set to make franchise history in the coming days.

Let’s get into what all of the numbers mean, but first, please take a look at what those numbers are on the Box Office Top 10 list. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: July 17-19, 2026

The Odyssey Is Christopher Nolan’s Biggest Global Debut

There are several reasons that The Odyssey earning $124.5 million this weekend (per The Numbers) is impressive — beyond the fact that high-end projections were closer to $110 million. For one, it’s the Oscar-winning director’s best three-day domestic premiere since 2012, when The Dark Knight Rises earned $160 million. Globally, it’s his best overall, adding $139.6 million internationally for a worldwide total of $264.1 million.

That massive $250 million budget isn’t looking so insurmountable now, is it? The Odyssey's $264.1 million global debut is better than that of The Dark Knight Rises ($249 million) and 2023’s Oppenheimer ($180 million).

Just how far could this colossal start take Christopher Nolan’s latest? Looking at recent history, Oppenheimer opened in second place to Barbie back in 2023 with a better-than-projected $82 million and stayed in theaters long enough to earn $975 million worldwide. So go, Odysseus, go!

The Odyssey Had The Best Live-Action Premiere Of 2026 So Far

Another impressive stat about the phenomenally cast epic is that it had the third-highest debut of the year so far, its $124.5 million trailing Toy Story 5’s $159 million and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s $131 million. That makes it 2026’s best live-action premiere yet, which is impressive because its R-rating puts an age limit on potential ticket-buyers.

While we were expecting review-bombing of The Odyssey because of the tweaks Christopher Nolan made to Homer’s classic, audience reaction was as high as you could hope.

Toy Story 5 Crosses $900 Million, With Even More Good News Coming

Minions & Monsters has been putting up a good fight since its Fourth of July release, despite lower-than-expected box office totals, even withToy Story 5 right on its tail. The Illumination product has earned $357.9 million globally so far, but it’s no match for what Jessie, Buzz and Woody have going on.

Toy Story 5 surpassed the $900M mark globally this week with a $958.4 million worldwide total. When it crosses into billion-dollar territory, it will be the franchise’s third movie to do so. Before that, though, TS5 will become the series’ highest-grossing movie domestically. Toy Story 4 currently holds that honor, having picked up $434 million during its time in North American theaters, but with the fifth movie standing at $430.9 million, a new leader seems mere days away.

Audiences Accepted The Invite For A Big Second Weekend In Wide Release

The buzz surrounding Olivia Wilde’s latest dramedy The Invite — including surprisingly great reviews for Seth Rogen movie — definitely is working to its advantage. The movie added to an additional 500 screens, allowing it a minimal 34% drop in its second weekend in wide release.

Last week’s new releases didn’t fare so well, with Moana falling 56% and Evil Dead Burn dropping 64%.

With Backrooms Out Of The Top 10, Is This The End Of Horror Summer?

The box office is in full swing (pun intended), as we prepare for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, and movie lovers are basking in a new Christopher Nolan flick, with plenty of child-approved options to fill their summer break. Is it the end of our horror-filled summer dominated by YouTubers?

Backrooms dropped out of the Top 10 this week after 52 days in release, but Obsession remains the little horror movie that could. Despite being released to stream with a Peacock subscription and now available to rent or buy, Obsession still has people choosing the big-screen experience. The $2.5 million Curry Barker's film made this weekend alone — its 10th in theaters — is more than three times what it cost to make the movie.

Genre fans need not worry, though. Slashers may not be dominating the charts right now, but there are plenty of upcoming horror movies still to come this summer.

No Major Releases Next Week Ahead Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Next weekend we can expect The Odyssey to make easy work of the box office again, as no major releases have been scheduled between that and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. So just how much is the upcoming MCU project expected to make? Box Office Theory predicts Spider-Man: Brand New Day to earn between $212 million and $228 million in the US and Canada over its first three days. Projections have been as high as $250 million in recent weeks.

Hopefully Zendaya can keep Tom Holland from spoiling the ending until then. I hope you’ll take this next week to see something at the theater you may have missed, and then I’ll be back with you next Sunday to look all the numbers.

Ouch. That’s all I have to say for the debut of the live-action Moana, as it nabbed the top spot this past weekend, but with a relatively meager $95 million worldwide.

Now, to put things into perspective, the movie reportedly had a production budget of up to $250 million, which means that it has a steep uphill climb, especially with The Odyssey coming this weekend (Different audiences, but still), and Spider-Man: Brand New Day just around the corner. So, does this spell the end for future live-action Disney adaptations?

Well, no, because we still have Tangled coming, as well as Hercules. However, if Moana’s failure proves anything, it’s that popular animated movies don’t necessarily make for successful live-action ones. So, here’s what I think Disney can do to right this ship.

Perhaps They Should Go Back To More Obscure Classics Like Pete's Dragon

Quite recently, I wrote about how Disney should make a live-action adaptation of Big Hero 6, and I am now ten toes down on that opinion after seeing Moana flop at the box office. That’s because everybody and their mother has already SEEN the original Moana, so why would they rush out of their houses to watch a live-action version of it? If anything, I think most people would just be of the mindset to wait for it to come to Disney+ since they literally already have Moana at home.

No, what Disney should do if they want people to get excited for these live-action adaptations again is to go back to the more obscure Disney movies, like Pete’s Dragon. Because while the 2016 live-action movie wasn’t a behemoth at the box office (it made a little over $143 million worldwide), it only had a production budget of $65 million, so it still made a profit.

This is what making more obscure adaptations can do - it can give Disney the freedom to have a stricter budget, since the audience might not have seen the original, so they don’t have anything to compare it to.

Just off the top of my head, here are some other “obscure” Disney cartoons that could make for some interesting live-action adaptations: Treasure Planet, The Emperor’s New Groove, Oliver & Company, The Sword in the Stone, and Bolt, just to name a few. Personally, I would definitely leave the house to see any one of those. Wouldn’t you? No, well, here’s another suggestion then…

Maybe Disney Can Try Not To Make Remakes So Close To The Originals

Anybody with eyes could have told you what Disney was going for with the recent Moana, as it was pretty much just a shot-for-shot, live-action recreation of the original, and who wants that? Yes, I know some people think movies like The Little Mermaid or Snow White went too far off the beaten path with their adaptations. Maybe something more like Aladdin, which took a creative risk with Will Smith as the Genie, is where these live-action movies should be heading.

So, maybe something different, but not TOO different is what I’m saying. For example, casting Dwayne Johnson as a live-action version of a character he voiced in the animated version just isn’t going to cut it, as why would anybody feel the need to see a whole movie of that when you already get the gist of what that would be like from the trailer?

Honestly, I’d rather we didn’t get more live-action versions of already popular animated movies, but if Disney’s going that route, then they might as well try something different to get us into the theaters. That’s all I’m saying.

What do you think? Do you feel Disney can turn things around with these live-action movies without adding Stitch to the mix? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

A lot of Moana fans are talking about the similarities between the OG Disney animated movie and the live action adaptation, but to me, a lot of the more interesting conversations are around the changes that were made. Some of them are bigger and will be obvious to anyone who has seen both movies, but there are also a lot that are more subtle and won’t immediately be noticeable to the casual viewer.

As an example, mega-star Lin-Manuel Miranda no longer sings “We Know The Way.” He’s the most prominent voice in the original version of the standout track that’s been streamed nearly 300M times on Spotify. He returned to work on the music for the new movie, but ultimately, the team decided to replace his vocal with one from Moses Mackay.

CinemaBlend recently had the chance to interview director Thomas Kail during the press day for the movie, and he gave us a pretty detailed explanation of the shake-up. Apparently, Miranda wasn’t supposed to sing on the track in the original movie either. He recorded a vocal demo to work as a placeholder. It went over really well, and since he was such a huge star, the original directors and the team behind the movie decided to just keep it.

When it came time to make the new movie, however, both Kail and Miranda felt like it was a good opportunity to turn the track over to a Polynesian voice. Here’s a portion of his quote…

Miranda and Kail have worked together for more than a decade. Kail was the director on Manuel’s breakout musical In The Heights, and he was heavily involved in Hamilton, directing the workshop, the off-Broadway version, the original Broadway version and the movie adaptation. As such, it wasn’t exactly a surprise the two continued working together on Moana.

In fact, when the subject of Miranda came up, Kail couldn’t stop talking about what a joy it was to be working with his longtime collaborator. He said the two have been scheming and working together constantly since they first met more than two decades ago, and to actually be together on set was a dream.

The critics reviews of the collaboration haven’t been positive, with many pointing to how similar the finished product is the original film, but thus far, the audience scores have been quite strong. It’s sitting at around 90% for the fan numbers on Rotten Tomatoes, and the word of mouth has been strong from the target audience. Its disappointing box office, however, has likely been a sign that it’s having trouble attracting casuals and people outside that target demographic.

You can check out the live action adaptation of Moana in theaters right now. Dwayne Johnson is back, and his wig is worth the price of admission alone. All the great songs and fun acting are just an added bonus.

It might be easy to assume that there aren’t any big awards left for Lin-Manuel Miranda to fill his shelves with, as the songwriting playwright and actor has amassed a wide variety of accolades over the past 20 years, including a Pulitzer and a Kennedy Center Honor. But the ever-elusive EGOT achievement remains just beyond his grasp, and it’s a legitimate concern that the live-action Moana’s lower-than-expected box office success could negatively impact Miranda’s next shot at joining the ranks of famed EGOT winners.

Before we jump into talking out the entertainer’s upcoming shot at winning any Oscars during the March 2027 ceremony, let’s take a look at the EGOT-centric awards that he has brought in over the years, as well as the Academy Award nominations that he did not land wins for.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's EGOT-Specific Award Wins And Oscar Noms

• Emmy Wins
  • 2014 Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics - The 67th Annual Tony Awards ("Bigger!")
  • 2021 Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) - Hamilton
• Grammy Wins
  • 2009 Best Musical Show Album - In the Heights
  • 2016 Best Musical Theater Album - Hamilton
  • 2018 Best Song Written For Visual Media - Moana ("How Far I'll Go")
  • 2023 Best Song Written For Visual Media - Encanto ("We Don't Talk About Bruno")
  • 2023 Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - Encanto
• Tony Wins
  • 2008 Best Original Score - In the Heights
  • 2016 Best Book of a Musical - Hamilton
  • 2016 Best Original Score - Hamilton
• Oscar Nominations
  • 2017 Best Original Song - "How Far I'll Go" (Moana)
  • 2022 Best Original Song - "Dos Oruguitas" (Encanto)

Will Moana's Critical And Box Office Woes Doom Lin-Manuel Miranda's EGOT Chances?

It'd be one thing if Moana drew in fewer moviegoers than expected despite universal praise from any and all critics, or if the movie crushed at the box office despite terrible reviews. But neither of those are the case here. Many critics reviews have been rough, outside of the rare breath of positive air, with general audiences questioning the timing of this remake happening so soon after the animated original. So it's kind of the worst of both worlds by way of positive awards momentum.

However, despite such clear setbacks, the film's key song — "Along the Way," as performed by Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, and Auli'i Cravalho — has earned quite a bit of praise all on its own. It was already on the shortlist of assumed Best Original Song nominations as soon as its existence was revealed, given Miranda's status, but it will be interesting to see if the song can remain a conversational high point not only as the 2026 release continues its theatrical run, but also throughout the many months until the 2027 Academy Awards arrive.

A pessimist might point to "How Far I'll Go" not winning back in 2017, despite the original animated film being beloved in all the ways that the live-action version isn't, and then assume that "Along the Way" can't possibly take home the gold. (That song had a solid live performance as well during that telecast.)

That same pessimist also might point to another Disney release's key track as being a frontrunner for this year's Oscars: Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You" from Toy Story 5.

But there's also some hope for the optimists out there! Rotten Tomatoes certainly isn't the most foolproof basis for Oscar predictions, but the are patterns and details that can be gleaned from it. Such as the idea that it's 38% RT score isn't an automatic elimination. As pointed out by Gold Derby, two films in the past 26 years have won Best Original Song despite scoring 70% or lower on Rotten Tomatoes: 2015's Spectre (63%) for "Writing's on the Wall," and 2024's Emilia Pérez (70%) for "El Mal." Both of those are obviously much higher than 38%, but a precedent is a precedent.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has written enough high-quality bops that he inspired a Top 10 Best Lin-Manuel Miranda Movie Songs list, but I guess CinemaBlend rankings don't help a movie's Oscar chances all that much either.

Moana is currently in theaters, with the next Academy Awards ceremony set for March 14, 2027, on ABC.

Moana sailed to Box Office gold this weekend, with the live-action remake earning $43 million in its first three days on the big screen. That’s way below projections, as the Disney flick competed with the 2026 movie calendar’s other family-friendly fare — Minions & Monsters and Toy Story 5. If we want to talk big wins, we've got to look at a flick that fell out of the Top 10 weeks ago, because this weekend belonged to Michael.

The Michael Jackson biopic starring the King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson has continued to bring in the bucks — especially overseas — to cross the 10-digit mark with a global box office total of $1,001,691,000, becoming the first biopic ever to surpass $1 billion.

Check out the weekend’s Top 10 movies below, per The Numbers, then we’ll get into what is all means, and of course, Michael’s huge milestone. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: July 10-12

Moana’s Opening Is Second-Worst Of Disney’s Live-Action Remakes — And Barely

Estimates for the live-action remake of Moana — starring Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson — were in the $60 million range, with low-end projections around $57 million. The reality is much bleaker at $43 million, and it didn’t get much help from the rest of the world, adding just $52 million for a global three-day total of $95 million.

That’s especially rough considering its hefty $250 million budget, which doesn’t include marketing costs. In fact, it’s the second-worst debut for a Disney live-action remake (and just barely) behind Snow White’s $42 million.

While many fans have expressed that they’re sick of these remakes, the House of Mouse has seen quite a bit of success, with 2016’s The Jungle Book possibly the best of the bunch. Let’s see how Moana’s opening weekend compares with some of the others:

• Moana (2026): $43 million
• Lilo & Stitch (2025): $146 million
• Snow White (2025): $42.2 million
• The Little Mermaid (2023): $95.6 million
• The Lion King (2019): $191.8 million
• Aladdin (2019): $91.5 million
• Beauty and the Beast (2017): $174.8 million
• The Jungle Book (2016): $103.3 million
• Cinderella (2015): $67.9 million

Evil Dead Burn Also Misses The Mark

Like Moana, Evil Dead Burn’s $13.7 million was far lower than projections, which had the movie making around $28 million. That’s somewhat surprising, given that horror has been so popular at the theater this summer, and the sixth offering in the Evil Dead franchise offered counterprogramming for all of the family-friendly fare.

However, critics were split, as some missed the signature Evil Dead humor that made the series so popular decades ago. Did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences agree with critics for this weekend's new movies?

Moana saw a shocking disparity between its reviews and audience opinion, so I guess viewers didn't find the live-action remake as "unnecessary" as the critics.

The Invite Climbs Upon Wide Release

While it doesn’t technically count as new, Olivia Wilde’s The Invite drew in $5.7 million in its first weekend in wide release (after two weekends of limited viewing), jumping from No. 10 to No. 6. Critics praised The Invite with a 96% RT score, and audiences seem to agree, giving it 89%.

Michael Crosses $1 Billion After 12 Weekends

Michael may have fallen out of the Box Office Top 10 in the U.S. and Canada back in June, but it’s continued to see plenty of ticket sales overseas — particularly in Japan, where Michael Jackson was super popular and where Michael saw a later release date of June 12. So, 12 weekends after its initial opening, the film has crossed the $1 billion milestone.

It is just the second movie to break into 10 figures this year, following The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s Lionsgate’s first-ever billion-dollar title. This comes weeks after Michael surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody ($911 million) as the highest-grossing music biopic ever and outgained Oppenheimer ($975.8 million) as the overall highest-grossing biopic.

Toy Story 5 Continues Its Climb Toward $1 Billion. Will Minions & Monsters Make It?

From everything we’ve seen and talked about above, it’s hard to argue that families are dominating the theaters right now, with the Top 3 movies all catering to the young ones. After Minions & Monsters’ less-than-ideal opening weekend, it dropped just 45% weekend over weekend, and when you add in its international numbers, it’s earned $280 million so far. It may not be the most successful of the franchise, but with an $85 million budget, nobody’s worried about this title.

The banana-loving blobs can’t seem to shake Toy Story 5, though. Despite the Pixar sequel being released nearly two weeks earlier, it remains on the Minions’ tail, with just $2 million separating the two in the weekend numbers. The global picture isn’t as close, with TS5 well on its way to $1 billion with $879 million worldwide.

Summer Blockbuster On Deck: The Odyssey

The time has finally come for The Odyssey — Christopher Nolan’s epic follow-up to Oppenheimer — featuring an all-star cast led by Matt Damon’s “insane” abs. OK, OK, I know the man is more than his chiseled midsection. The book-to-screen adaptation is projected to make between $100 million and $110 million, according to Box Office Pro, but after a few weekends of low numbers, I’m wary of the nine digits.

I’m trusting the experts, though, so snatch up your tickets if you’re so inclined, and then check back in with me next Sunday so we can crunch those numbers.

Moana is the latest live-action Disney remake to hit theaters and, so far, it isn’t quite making waves as the studio would’ve hoped. Early reactions to the film were mostly negative, and that mostly continued when the formal reviews were released shortly after. Reports also point to the film having a tepid opening weekend at the box office. As of this writing, none of the cast or crew have formally responded to the less-than-positive responses to the movie. Before all that, though, the director did weigh in on reading reviews in general.

Thomas Kail is Moana’s director and, over the last several months, he’s spoken enthusiastically about his remake of the beloved animated 2016 film. While doing press for the fantasy flick, Kail spoke to Variety and was asked for his take on reading reviews of his work. What needs to be pointed out is that it’s unclear whether the Hamilton helmer shared his thoughts before he caught wind of the reactions to his 2026 movie schedule entry. Regardless, his perspective on film criticism is quite level-headed:

So Kail is definitely aware of the critics’ reviews and seems to get a general idea of how they’re feeling. However, it sounds like he doesn’t dwell on the responses regardless of how they shake out. That’s probably a smart way to approach the critiques, as a filmmaker may not want to get in their head about them, whether they’re good or bad. I like the idea of a director just releasing their movie into the wild and simply allowing audiences to take it for what they perceive it to be.

As far as the live-action Moana movie goes, pundits haven’t been kind, with many referring to the remake as “unnecessary.” As it stands, the movie has a 34% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, but a 90% audience score on the site as well. There has been praise for the performance of lead actress Catherine Laga'aia, her chemistry with returning Maui actor Dwayne Johnson and the film’s songs. However, the consensus seems to be that the new movie pales in comparison to its critically acclaimed predecessor.

Something that a number of Disney fans have seemingly questioned is whether it was necessary to make a live-action Moana movie a little less than a decade after the OG flick. Andrew Cripps, Walt Disney Studios’ Head Of Theatrical Distribution, addressed that and argued that due to the film’s large fanbase, the studio wasn’t risking saturation. Ahead of that, Kail also admitted to be cognizant of how the OG film “is in people’s molecules” at this point, but he still felt he could put a fresh spin on the story.

Likewise, Dwayne Johnson has also pushed back against the notion of this remake having been produced too early. This was something of a passion project for Johnson, who took extreme care (alongside Kail) in making sure that the franchise’s authentic approach to Polynesian culture remained intact.

It now remains to be seen whether Thomas Kail might feel compelled to give a formal response to the Moana reviews. However, if he stands by his rationale on film criticism, the public probably shouldn’t expect him to do that. For now, though, audiences can make up their own mind on the movie by checking it out in theaters. Anyone with a Disney+ subscription can also stream the 2016 movie along with its 2024 sequel.

Moana is a Disney Princess. That’s the official line from Disney at least, but not every fan is in agreement on who should or shouldn’t qualify as a Princess. Like everything else Disney-related, people have strong opinions about which of the ladies should be on the list. So, we decided to talk to an expert: the actress who is actually playing Moana in the new live action adaptation.

During the press junket for Moana, CinemaBlend had the privilege of speaking with Catherine Laga’aia, and we asked her whether she views Moana as a Disney Princess. In return, she gave us a super thoughtful answer that I think encapsulates how the majority of us feel. Here’s a portion of her quote…

Laga’aia is right. A lot of fans lump Moana, Mulan and Pocahontas together into almost like a sub-category of Princesses. They technically qualify, but to some, they feel different because they’re more physically involved in the conflicts. I don’t really see how that makes them any less of Princesses though. In fact, I’d argue it’s especially important to categorize them as such because they offer an alternate path that shows younger viewers you can have a wide variety of personality types and life goals and still be a Princess.

The other group of Princesses or non-Princesses that Disney fans argue over includes entirely separate characters like Anna and Elsa from Frozen and Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. They all fit more into the traditional archetype of Princesses, but Disney doesn’t officially include them, allegedly because the company wants to keep them separate for branding reasons. That’s a separate article that could easily be a thousand words, but if nothing else, it’s a good representation of why fans don’t always agree with Disney’s official roster.

Regardless of how you classify her, Moana is back at the movie theater this weekend. The new take on her title film officially hits the movie release schedule today, and it’ll give everyone the chance to relive the magical Polynesian story with non-animated characters. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, complete with a gigantic tattoo suit and a ridiculous wig, and Laga’aia is ready to give fans a familiar yet unique take on the Disney Princess herself.

Live-action remakes have become like bread and butter on the upcoming Disney movies list lately, but the live-action Moana is the first time we’re seeing such a new animated movie get the treatment. If you've been wondering why the House of Mouse jumped on remaking Moana so quickly, and we’ve got a new answer from one of the company’s key decision makers.

Andrew Cripps, who is the Head Of Theatrical Distribution globally at Walt Disney Studios just shared his thoughts on the subject amidst the rough reviews coming out around Moana often calling the movie "unnecessary". In his words to the LA Times:

For big movie studios like Disney, when fans put their time and money into a franchise it helps decide what we see next on movie schedules. In terms of the Moana movies, the 2016 original film made $643 million worldwide and remains the most-watched movie in Disney+ history. Additionally, Moana 2 crossed $1 billion globally after hitting theaters during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2024. As Cripps also added:

The Moana remake was an opportunity for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to portray his role of Maui in live-action alongside a new Moana actress, Catherine Laga'aia, and even bring back the original voice actress in a special way. Johnson and director Thomas Kail have also spoken about their excitement to bring the movie’s representation of Polynesian culture to the forefront as another special reason for its existence.

But just as the enthusiasm for the animated Moana movies communicated to Disney to make this “extension” to the franchise, we'll have to see how the response to this live-action version might determine the future of more remakes of contemporary Walt Disney Animation favorites. The live-action Tangled movie is currently in production and a sequel to last year’s Lilo & Stitch is expected to start filming later this year. But so far, the most popular live-action movies have come from Disney's Renaissance Era (i.e: The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin).

Critics have greatly rejected the live-action Moana, calling it “a quick and easy buck” and “the most unnecessary remake yet.” And opening weekend projections place the movie in the neighborhood of flops like Dumbo and Snow White. But it's way too soon to say how audiences feel about it.

Now that Moana is in theaters, we'll have to wait and see how far it goes this summer alongside other family films like Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters. It should also reveal if it was actually too soon to bring a live-action version to the big screen.

In the lead-up to the live-action Moana’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, there’s been lots of discourse about why it was made now. It’s only been ten years since the original animated film was released, and a lot of initial reactions to this new Moana describe it as “unnecessary.” However, Dwayne Johnson is coming to the movie’s defense and pushing back on it being made too soon.

Ever since the live-action Moana was announced, there’s been chatter about why it was happening right now, and people have not been afraid to voice their disinterest in this remake. It’s only been ten years since the animated film’s premiere, and a lot of Disney’s other live-action remakes came decades after the animated release. However, Johnson, who voiced Maui in the animated movies and plays him in live-action, believed now was the right time to do this, as he told THR:

He makes a valid point, and it’s one that’s been reiterated by the team behind Moana. In fact, earlier this year, director Thomas Kail defended the live-action Moana. He said that putting this story in live action makes a “fundamentally different” experience, because you get to “have flesh and blood and have human beings tell the story.” Doing the live-action version also provides jobs and representation in live action for Pacific Islanders, as songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda explained:

With all that being said, they decided to make the movie. And as The Rock explained, it was “an easy conversation” to have as they quickly chose to move forward with this remake in 2019.

However, people are starting to see the upcoming Disney movie, and the reception has not been great. At the time of this writing, the live-action Moana has a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 76 reviews. For reference, the original movie sits at 95%. So, the new iteration of this beloved character’s story is off to a rough start.

While people are not thrilled with this remake, though – one critic called it “Disney’s safest and most unnecessary remake yet” – there is a lot of love for Catherine Laga'aia's Moana. She took on the role in live-action after Auliʻi Cravalho voiced the character in the animated movies. The fact that she's being praised plays into the point Johnson and co. made about the value of seeing a real person on screen as this beloved character.

So, with all that said, you can make up your mind about this new version of Moana by seeing the live-action version in theaters and streaming the animated version with a Disney+ subscription.

Another live-action Disney remake is on the cusp of hitting theaters and, this time, it’s Moana that’s being brought to life. Directed by Thomas Kali, the film retells the story from the franchise’s inaugural 2016 installment and sees Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. A lot has been said about the remake in the lead-up to its release on the 2026 movie schedule, and the first reactions are now pouring. Those who’ve been following the chatter for months may be able to guess the adjective that keeps getting used.

For some time now, Disney fans have shared thoughts on the live-action versions of some of its most beloved animated films. Some of those remakes have been praised – like Cinderella and The Jungle Book – while others – such as Snow White and Dumbo – have been panned. “Unecessary” is a word that’s thrown around quite often when it comes to a number of these movies, and it’s coming up again in the live-action Moana reactions. It came up when Matt Neglia shared his brutally honest take:

Neglia did go on to praise lead actress Catherine Laga’aia’s performance and say the songs were still “catchy and enjoyable.” Yet he also countered that he also already has an animated film to watch to soak in those great tunes. On that note, critic Doug Jamieson also dubbed this latest remake “unnecessary” and, while he also praised Laga'aia, he took issue with this retread:

Additionally, the film did get a bit of faint praise from The Nerds of Color, who praised some of the visuals. But, you guessed it, the word "unnecessary" came up again:

What’s interesting about the reactions in general is that even those that don’t use the word “unnecessary” still manage to convey that same sentiment. Kaitlyn Booth of Bleeding Cool also chastised this latest remake for adding very little to the mythology:

Of course, not all the reactions are completely negative. Tessa Smith shared some positive thoughts on the movie, as she praised the story as well as the chemistry between Laga'aia and (the wig-wearing) Johnson:

Still, it would appear that plenty of pundits are less than pleased with this finished product from the House of Mouse. Germain Lussier of Gizmodo and io9 also had this to say:

All in all, it sounds like this upcoming Disney movie may not do much to convert those who may be tired of the remakes. The film’s creative team has spoken extensively about making the movie, with The Rock having discussed the importance of keeping the franchise’s devotion to Polynesian culture intact. Based on the early reactions, there are no cultural-related complaints, but it seems this take on one of Disney’s most beloved characters doesn’t quite justify its existence.

Fans can, of course, make up their own minds by checking out Moana when it opens in theaters on July 10. In the meantime, the original 2016 film and its 2024 sequel are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

I’m not sure there are many actors in Hollywood who have gotten more positive comments about their appearance over the past few decades than Dwayne Johnson. From WWE superstar to action staple to the biggest name in Hollywood, The Rock won the Sexiest Man Alive crown back in 2016 and hasn’t exactly gotten less attractive in the last decade. For the past several months, however, he’s been getting a taste of how the rest of us live, as he’s been the subject of cheeky jokes and zany one-liners thanks to his look in the upcoming Moana.

Johnson voiced Maui in Disney’s Moana ten years ago and is returning for the live action version, which hits the movie release schedule later this week. Since the moment the first trailer dropped, however, fans have been making cracks about the big guy’s wig. People aren’t used to seeing The Rock with such luxurious and flowy hair, and there are many who think the production department could have chosen some locks that were a little less jarring. Maybe a little less Weird Al Yankovic?

Let the record show, however, that Johnson has taken it all in good spirits. He’s seen the jokes online, and he’s laughed along with quite a few of them. Here’s what he told us during a recent interview we did on the Moana press day…

Johnson quickly got used to the idea that people were going to make jokes. He’s had basically the same look since the mid-2000s, apart from the occasional change-up for a movie role. So, it wasn’t a surprise that people had something to say about his Maui look. Between the 40 pound tattoo suit and the hair, it was always going to be jarring when people got their first look. From his perspective, however, he was just happy that many of the jokes were actually funny.

If you’re going to get roasted by the Internet, at least get roasted in a way that’s entertaining. Here’s more of his take…

The Rock has shown pretty consistently during his career that he’s able to laugh at himself and/ or let his buddies clown him. He recently posted a video clip in which he misunderstood a question a journalist asked about his favorite swimming stroke and instead gave an answer about his bedroom preferences. Compared to that level of awkwardness, this wig is nothing. At least that’s my take. You can decide for yourself and see Johnson’s full look in all its glory when Moana officially hits theaters on July 10th.

When it comes to the live-action Disney adaptations, it's usually not hard to figure out which animated features will get the greenlight. For example, Tangled is kind of a no-brainer, with the only surprise being that it took so long.

That's why, when we got a live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch and will soon get one for Moana, I kind of just rolled my eyes. Not because either is a bad choice (I love Moana, after all), but because they're just so…obvious.

You know which animated movie wouldn't be an obvious choice? 2014's Big Hero 6, which I think would make for an amazing live-action adaptation. Here's why.

Big Hero 6 Could Actually Benefit A Great Deal In Live-Action

Some movies probably wouldn't be great for live-action adaptations, such as The Aristocats, which was thankfully cancelled. I only say this, though, because what could you actually DO with The Aristocats to give it new life for a new audience? I know that's not Disney's ultimate intention when greenlighting these adaptations (their ultimate intention being $$$, of course), but as a viewer, that's what I look for when I watch these adaptations: What has been added to make it feel new?

Well, for Big Hero 6, I think a lot can be done in live-action that would make it genuinely exciting to see again with actual actors. Loosely based on the Marvel comic of the same name, Big Hero 6 is about a young robotics expert who loses his older brother to nefarious means, and his quest to avenge him with the help of his brother's former university friends, and also a lovable nurse robot named Baymax.

All of the tech-centric action was cool in animated form, but I think it would be exponentially cooler in live-action, especially with the advanced city of San Fransokyo as a backdrop. Sure, Disney owns Marvel and has no shortage of comic book movies, but Big Hero 6 is unique in that it’s a comic book film directly aimed at a younger audience, which I think would make it stand apart from other Disney live-action adaptations.

It's A Bit Of A Cult Movie For Disney, So It Might Even Gain A New Following

Another thing that kind of annoys me with these adaptations is that they're usually for movies that kids might have already seen in animated form. For example, looking back at the Disney Renaissance, we've already gotten adaptations of the most popular films of that era: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Mulan (with Hercules still on the way).

Did we get an adaptation for The Rescuers Down Under? Did we get one for Pocahontas? No, and no, and that's because Disney ostensibly only wants to bet on sure things. So, again, Lilo & Stitch and Moana make sense...but haven’t kids likely already seen them in animated form? Even with three different television series, Big Hero 6 has kind of always felt like a cult movie when it comes to Disney (sort of like Bolt), and I think a live-action adaptation could bring new eyes to this awesome story.

That said, there’s one main reason why I think a live-action Big Hero 6 would work.

I Just Want More Baymax

I’ll be honest with you. I know the world loves Stitch as a character, and that people have embraced Maui, but I just don’t have much enthusiasm for either of them. Do you know who I do love? Baymax.

In fact, who doesn’t? The lovable healthcare robot is the standout character in Big Hero 6. I think a live-action Baymax would be the absolute cutest, and I think it would really stand out if he was brought back to the big screen.

The beauty is, with the way AI and tech are heading, Baymax makes more sense now than ever. A lot of people have kind of rallied against AI these days, but Baymax represents the side of it that is actually quite welcoming. So, maybe it would actually behoove Disney to put Baymax front and center in a live-action film, especially with the way they’re now leaning into AI. Just a thought.

Dwayne Johnson has spent enough time on press tours to know how to handle almost any question. He can talk about his upcoming projects, his major franchises, training, fatherhood, his family's wrestling history, major career lows and Disney songs without breaking a sweat. But, apparently, even The Rock can get caught off guard when a perfectly innocent swimming question takes a sharp left turn in his brain. Johnson just misinterpreted a question during a 2026 movie calendar press tour and, now, we know way too much about what he’s into sexually.

In a video shared to Johnson’s Instagram account from the Moana global tour, an interviewer asks him a simple question: “What’s your stroke of choice?” Given the Moana connection, the host was clearly talking about swimming. He, however, heard something else entirely. You can watch the clip below.

Talk about hilarious timing. There is barely a pause before the Smashing Machine star answers with complete confidence, like he has been waiting his whole life for someone to ask this during a Disney press stop. He laughs and says:

The interviewer immediately realizes the conversation has gone far away from the ocean. With that, he tries to steer things back to the family-friendly part of the program with a, "Okay, alright, fine. I mean I was going swimming…I was thinking… what’s happening?"

That is when Johnson realizes the mistake, and his face basically does the human version of a loading screen. Suddenly, the context of promoting the live-action Moana remake kicks back in. Not whatever private mental cul-de-sac he had wandered into. He says:

Yes. Yes, he did.

Johnson clearly knew exactly how ridiculous the moment was, too. In the caption for the post, he wrote, “I may always look clean, but under the hood your boy’s filthy,” before explaining that he “honestly thought he was asking about a different kind of ‘stroke.’” He followed that with “Domination,” then “Jesus,” and admitted he needed carbs and sleep.

That might be the most Dwayne Johnson press-tour caption imaginable. The man is out there promoting an ocean adventure set for theatrical release and then streaming for folks with a Disney+ subscription. Yet, he accidentally turns a swimming question into a bedroom personality test.

What makes it even funnier is that the Mummy Returns alum does not try to play it cool afterward. A lot of celebrities might have pretended they misunderstood nothing and powered through the awkwardness. Of course, The Rock knows the only way out is to laugh at himself, so he lets the whole thing breathe.

As a whole, this situation is a true testament to Johnson's professional, yet self-deprecating nature. In all seriousness, though, the Moana press tour has seemingly meant a great deal to him, considering his love for the franchise and its ties to his heritage. Nevertheless, there has been time for sillier moments, like when he addressed a nipple-related query involving Maui, his character in the film series.

On that note, I'll take a viral moment like this "stroke" answer any day of the week. I do not think we need to update any official Dwayne Johnson biography based on one chaotic press-tour answer. But, if anyone was wondering whether The Rock could make a Moana interview unexpectedly spicy, you'll be content to have your answer.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson returns as Maui, this time in live-action form, in Moana, releasing in theaters on July 10.

Another live-action Disney adaptation is headed our way, as Moana is set to hit the 2026 movie calendar in just a couple of weeks. Some are undoubtedly excited about seeing the best Moana songs sung on the big screen again as the titular Disney princess answers the call of the ocean. However, many have been preoccupied with something you don’t typically think about with Disney movies — nipples, and specifically The Rock’s apparent lack thereof.

Ever since the live-action Moana trailer dropped, fans have apparently been staring at Dwayne Johnson’s chest, with much conjecture about whether he has nipples. He was even asked about it while doing press for the movie, and it was obvious he wasn’t too happy about this being such a big topic of conversation. Johnson told Pedestrian TV:

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson never lost his charming smile when answering the question, and there’s no way he can blame the interviewer for asking, because this is actually a topic that came up even with the animated version of Moana. So The Rock was game, and hopefully his explanation will put the debate to bed. He said:

When you woke up today, you probably weren’t expecting to read about The Rock discussing his areolas, were you? What can I say except, “You’re welcome”?

If you do, in fact, want to heed Dwayne Johnson’s advice and take a closer look at the Moana trailer, please be my guest:

This project is one that Dwayne Johnson has been excited about since the live-action Moana was announced, so I can see why it would be disheartening that any of the narrative is about his body and not the movie itself. Still, I’d hate to have deprived the Internet of the thoughtful commentary this topic has inspired on Reddit:

• WHAT CAN I SAY I HAVE NO NIPPLES – TheEdgeofGoon
• Apparently Dwayne had his nipples surgically removed for this role. He truly cares about the art of acting. – Various_Research_436
• A god has no such need for mammalian milkers – jjman2313

Regardless of your interest level in The Rock’s nipples, you will be able to see him as Maui and Catherine Laga'aia as Moana when the upcoming Disney movie crashes into theaters on Friday, July 10.

Disney's live-action Moana has already generated plenty of excitement thanks to Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia stepping into the title role. But one of the coolest creative decisions behind the remake involves the original voice of Moana, Auli'i Cravalho. The idea to involve her in the new movie apparently came from Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the story of how he incorporated her is pretty great.

In a behind-the-scenes clip shared on Disney Studios' Instagram, Miranda explained how the creative team found a way to include both Moana actresses in the movie's musical storytelling. He shared:

Honestly, that feels like a pretty elegant solution. For years, fans wondered whether Cravalho would appear in Disney's live-action remake after she announced she would not reprise the lead role. Instead, Disney cast newcomer Catherine Laga'aia as Moana while keeping Cravalho involved behind the scenes as an executive producer. At the time, the original voice actress said she wanted to help open the door for another young Pacific Islander performer to experience what she had experienced nearly a decade earlier.

Now, it sounds like she still found a way to leave her mark on the movie. Rather than giving the Mean Girls actress a quick cameo in the 2026 release, the filmmakers came up with something more meaningful. According to Miranda, the idea became a musical exchange between the Moana audiences first fell in love with in 2016 and the new version making her theatrical debut in the live-action adaptation.

That idea feels particularly fitting given how important legacy and identity have become to Disney's recent remakes. Instead of replacing one performer with another, Moana appears to be acknowledging both. I think that’s an idea most fans can get behind.

The animated Moana became one of Disney's most enduring modern hits, and Cravalho's performance played a huge part in that success. Songs like "How Far I'll Go" helped turn the film into a phenomenon, while the movie itself remained one of the most-streamed titles in the world years after its release (you can watch it with a Disney+ subscription).

The behind-the-scenes video shared by Disney also gives fans a brief taste of the new song, "Along the Way." While only a snippet is heard, it offers an early preview of how the two Moanas will connect musically. Check it out below.

Miranda has been closely tied to Moana since the original film, having co-written its songs, including "How Far I'll Go." Though he did not return for Moana 2, his involvement in the live-action adaptation has allowed him to revisit the world he helped create while also finding new ways to honor the legacy of the animated movie.

Bringing Cravalho back alongside Laga'aia appears to be one of those ideas, giving longtime fans a connection between the original film and its new incarnation. There is always pressure attached to remaking beloved animated classics, especially one as cherished as Moana. But finding a way to honor Cravalho while also introducing Laga'aia feels like exactly the kind of bridge longtime fans hope to see.

After all, Moana has always been about understanding where you come from while finding your own path forward. Apparently, the live-action version took that lesson to heart.

Moana sails into theaters July 10.

Dwayne Johnson has always made it clear that Maui is more than just another role in an upcoming Disney film. The character is tied directly to his late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and he brought that connection back into focus while promoting the 2026 calendar release of the Moana live-action remake in Hawaii.

In a recent Instagram post, Johnson shared a tribute video dedicated to Maivia, talking about his grandfather alongside throwback clips of the wrestling legend in the ring. The post, see below, explained that the timing was deeply personal, because Maivia died in Hawaii 43 years ago this past weekend.

The video and caption gave fans a rare look at just how much of Maivia still lives on in the Smashing Machine star’s work. They also served as a reminder that, for The Rock, Maui has never been just a Disney character but a way to honor someone who helped shape his life.

Johnson Says Maui Keeps His Grandfather Close

In the caption, the veteran WWE superstar wrote that the inspiration behind Maui was “my grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia.” He then reflected on the day Maivia died, writing that his grandfather began “his walk in the clouds” from Hawaii 43 years ago.

The actor described Maivia as an unforgettable presence, praising his charisma, hair, tattoos, strength, toughness and singing voice. The Fast & Furious alum wrote that the High Chief was “built like a tank,” “moved like a cheetah,” and “sang like an angel.”

That is a very specific kind of tribute, and it explains a lot about why Maui feels so personal to the third-generation wrestling star. He added:

Johnson ended the post by writing, “Love you grandpa,” before signing off with a long “Aloha,” echoing the energy and larger-than-life style he clearly associates with Maivia.

Maui’s Look Has Always Had A Family Connection

This is not the first time Johnson has connected Maui to his grandfather. The Rock revealed years ago that the animated demigod was partly based on High Chief Peter Maivia.

It is easy to see why. Maivia was a Samoan high chief, a professional wrestler and a major figure in the actor's family history. Maui’s size, tattoos, hair and huge presence all feel connected to that legacy. The eyebrow may be pure Rock, but much of the rest feels like a love letter to Maivia.

That family legacy runs even deeper in wrestling. The former wrestling champion originally debuted in WWE as Rocky Maivia, a name that honored both his father, Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather. Later, when the Disney star called his grandmother, Lia Maivia, “the real Final Boss” before her WWE Hall of Fame induction, he again pointed to how much his family shaped not only his career but also his sense of identity.

Lia Maivia’s story also connects directly to Peter Maivia’s legacy. After his death, she became one of professional wrestling’s early female promoters and helped bring wrestling to Hawaii in a way few had seen before.

The Live-Action Moana Makes That Connection Even More Personal

The live-action Moana puts the Jumanji actor in a different position than the animated original. He is no longer only voicing Maui. He is physically stepping into the role, bringing the character to life on the big screen.

That makes this press tour feel less like standard Disney promotion and more like a family circle moment. The longtime action movie star is promoting a character inspired by his grandfather in the same place where his grandfather died more than four decades earlier.

The live-action Moana is set to hit theaters July 10th. Fans have seen him talk about the character plenty over the years, from what Maui says about real masculinity to the Moana-related request Johnson says he gets from fans on a daily basis, but this felt like an especially revealing and heartwarming look at what brought the popular character to life both in animation and in live action.

Throughout the last few years, Disney has been producing live-action remakes of their animated blockbusters, to varying levels of success. Joining the ranks of those movies (which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription) is the live-action adaptation Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his voice role as Maui. Although the hulking actor recently admitted he was having some marriage issues while playing the fan-favorite demigod.

There's a ton of hype surrounding the upcoming Disney movie, mostly because the animated Moana was such a huge hit. During a profile for Esquire, Dwayne Johnson admitted he and his wife Lauren were having some marriage issues while filming. Nothing catastrophic, but the type of bumps in the road that happen in most long-term relationships. He spoke about being so far from home during that time and having to bring Maui's positivity to life in the midst of it all. In his words:

That does seem challenging. Working any job while going through personal issues is difficult, but having to perform is uniquely hard, especially when actors need to push their feelings down in order to portray positivity and happiness. And I've got to give DJ credit; the Moana trailer shows no indication that he was having such a hard time.

While Dwayne Johnson got some flak for his Moana wig, folks do seem hyped to see the movie's story told in a live-action format. He and his wife have gotten through whatever their issues were, as was obvious in that same interview. Many relationships have ups and downs, and I appreciate that The Smashing Machine actor was so honest about his own; sometimes, celebrities really are just like us.

Johnson is definitely a family man, constantly sharing cute parenting anecdotes on social media. So one can only imagine how much he was distracted by his relationship issues while filming Moana. But the Fast and Furious actor is a consummate professional, and was able to bring Maui to life in live-action. Luckily, audiences will get to see the fruits of that labor shortly.

The new Moana movie is set to arrive in theaters on July 10th as part of the 2026 movie release list. If you prefer the story animated, that's streamable over on Disney+, both of which feature the talents of Dwayne Johnson.

The remake of Moana is set to hit the 2026 movie calendar this summer, marking the latest entry in Disney’s quest to create live-action remakes for its animated catalog. There’s been quite a bit of criticism surrounding the film, especially about Dwayne Johnson’s wig, ever since the first trailer dropped. But now, his Moana co-star is speaking up with a totally different viewpoint.

In a recent chat with Entertainment Tonight, a video of which was posted to their X account, Catherine Laga'aia, who stars as the titular warrior, talked about how she sees Dwayne Johnson's hair—or the lack of it, really. While everyone else is buzzing about his wavy Maui hair, she said she mostly knew him in his character's costume. For her, it was his bald look that took some getting used to. She explained:

In the movie, Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, decked out in 40 pounds of prosthetics and that headline-making wig. He’s pumped about getting another shot at the character in a new way, seeing it as a chance to represent Polynesian culture. The former WWE star also knows how beloved the original is and wants to make sure it’s treated with reverence. However, not everyone is on board with the movie's look, including the characters' costumes, and there have been quite a few critics have voiced their opinions.

The 19-year-old Moana actress says that as soon as she saw the actor in costume, she knew the movie would work. As she expounded on:

The animated movie Moana was released in 2016 and was a big hit, grossing over $600 million at the box office. But what really took off was its popularity on streaming. People with a Disney+ subscription practically had it on repeat, making it one of the most-watched films in the early 2020s. Because of this success, they released a sequel in 2024 and began work on the live-action version, likely thanks to its strong performance on streaming.

Whoever took on the job of turning the animated film into a live-action movie had a tough road ahead. The director, Thomas Kail, who directed Hamilton on stage and for Disney+, admitted he knew the original animated film was "in people’s molecules" and incredibly special to many audiences. Still, he was excited to give it a shot and see what he could do with the material.

The trailer definitely made waves, racking up almost 7 million views. But it’s tough to ignore the mixed reactions that came after. Even Weird Al couldn’t resist poking fun at The Rock’s wig. Just like when the first footage of the live-action Moana dropped, fans are asking, “Why do we really need this?” Some have even said it feels like a Saturday Night Live skit. Still, the stars of the film have their own takes on the whole situation, just as the responses to the wig do. So maybe we’re being a bit too harsh; let's give both the movie and the wig a fair shot.

Moana hits theaters on July 10, 2026.

Somehow it’s already been a decade since the original Moana movie came out, and Disney fans can now look forward to the story being retold as a live-action film on the 2026 movie schedule. This week, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the new Moana actress, Catherine Laga'aia, presented the film at Las Vegas’s CinemaCon, and the Maui actor brought up a golden point about the demigod and “real masculinity”.

The original Moana is already a special movie to a lot of people, so what will the new movie bring to audiences who’ve likely already seen the original many times? One thing that Dwayne Johnson said during the Walt Disney Studios panel (via Variety) definitely sticks out. In his words:

There’s always a lot of upcoming The Rock movies on the way for the superstar, so naturally, I’ve been wondering why the actor/producer would feel so passionately about remaking a movie that is already considered one of Walt Disney Animation’s best. It sounds like he’s very interested in spreading the message of the film further, and underlining one point about masculinity Maui stands for.

When we meet Maui in Moana, he thinks he’s the greatest hero, but he ultimately steps aside and needs Moana to save the day rather than earning all the glory. As he mentioned at CinemaCon, “all men” should give women the chance to feel the way that Moana does in her tale, and perhaps that’s one big reason the movie bears repeating in live action. Maui is definitely a rare character in media, and he’s got a great point here. The Rock also said this:

Along with Moana getting The Rock to play Maui again, it's also helping show his vulnerability and break stereotypes about big, strong men having to be tough all the time. The new movie will give more of a microphone to the Polynesian people and their culture, as a wide audience will get to see Polynesian actors front a major studio film – and that definitely doesn’t happen every day! You can check out the trailer for Moana:

I like that Dwayne Johnson has talked about being “protective” over Moana before, whilst doing the remake. I also appreciate that the director said “the opportunity to have flesh and blood” tell Moana’s hero’s journey made the movie worth his time. You can see the live-action Moana in theaters on July 10.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has plenty of movies under his belt and, as such, he’s known for playing a variety of roles. From The Fast & Furious’ Luke Hobbs to Jumanji’s Dr. Xander "Smolder" Bravestone, the wrestler-turned-actor has quite a few big-screen alter egos. However, someone could argue that the character Johnson’s become most synonymous with in recent years has been the demi god Maui from the Moana franchise. To that point, Johnson apparently receives a “daily” fan request linked to the animated character.

While Disney’s Moana has been incredibly successful and Johnson has benefited from it, the A-lister has long been vocal about the deeper reason he’s so pleased with the franchise. It’s the depiction of Polynesian culture in the animated movies that truly warms Johnson’s heart. The Black Adam star spoke about that cultural connection during a recent interview with the Mirror, and the sentiments he shared were truly heartwarming:

Maui is particularly meaningful to The Rock, considering that the character is inspired by his late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, who was an actor, stuntman and wrestler, who created the “Flyin’ Hawaiian” move. Johnson’s portrayal of his character has been well received, and it feels as though his popularity has only grown since his debut in 2016. With that, Johnson says admirers ask him to do something that’s become an iconic part of Maui’s lore, so to speak:

“You’re Welcome” is the song Maui notably sings in 2016’s Moana, through which he essentially introduces himself to the titular protagonist. It’s a serious earworm, and I can completely understand just why fans would be eager for Johnson to sing it if they run into him. However, it’s wild to think that the request has apparently become a “daily” occurrence for the star. Still, it sounds like he doesn’t mind, especially considering how much the franchise means to people, including his children:

Seriously, there was indeed a time at which one of The Rock’s daughters staunchly refused to believe her dad was the voice of Maui. But that humorous irony aside, it’s sweet to hear just how much the character and the franchise as whole means to Johnson, and I love that he appreciates fans’ affection as well. And, now, that passion will manifest once more through the live-action Moana movie, in which Johnson is reprising Maui.

While some people have been roasting The Rock’s live-action Maui look (including those pounds of hair), that doesn’t seem to have extinguished any enthusiasm the actor has. He’s also been incredibly mindful of how the film will portray his culture, which is very sweet. Of course, fans will also surely see him perform “You’re Welcome,” and I can surely imagine that bumping up song requests. Check out the film when it opens on July 10 as part of the 2026 movie schedule, and stream the OG film and its sequel with a Disney+ subscription.

Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars on the planet, and while there are many different reasons for that fact, one significant contributor is his work for Disney. Two of his earliest roles when he was still working on fully establishing himself as an actor were in 2007's The Game Plan and 2009's Race To Witch Mountain, and his relationship with the studio has only gotten stronger in recent years thanks to the Moana movies: which includes two animated films and the upcoming live-action remake. This in mind, it's really no surprise that he has been named as one of the latest recipients of the Disney Legends Award, and he accepted the prize with both grace and a funny Maui nod.

Johnson is part of the Disney Legends Class of 2026, a list that includes a number of other notable names including both artists and executives, and he expressed his gratitude for the honor in an Instagram post this weekend. Alongside an edited video showcasing clips of his history with Disney, the wrestler-cum-actor wrote a long caption that begins with his emotional response to the news:

The collaboration between Dwayne Johnson and the filmmakers/executives at Disney has certainly been fruitful. While neither The Game Plan nor Race To Witch Mountain were massive blockbusters, they did individually earn nine-figures at the worldwide box office. Moana, meanwhile, was indeed a massive blockbuster, earning over $640 million globally, and Moana 2 was even bigger, making over $1 billion. It should go without saying that anticipation is quite high for the live-action remake, which will be in theaters on July 10.

The Disney Legends Class of 2026 actually seems to be very inspired by the success of Moana: in addition to including Dwayne Johnson, other recipients with links to the hits films include Lin-Manuel Miranda (who wrote the music), Alan Tudyk (who voices the silly rooster Heihei), and Bob Iger, who was CEO amid the development of all three titles in the franchise).

Continuing in his post, Dwayne Johnson threw out some first-name thank yous to everyone who brought him to Disney Legend status, and he concluded with his Maui catchphrase:

(If you need to go listen to the song now, you're excused)

The full Disney Legends Class of 2026 includes Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alan Tudyk, Bob Iger, Anne Hathaway, the Jonas Brothers, ESPN legend Chris Berman, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Beauty And The Beast star Susan Egan, animator Eric Goldberg, and Kim Irvine from Imagineering. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the ceremony will be broadcast on Disney+ when its held on August 16.

Disney’s live-action Moana remake is on the way, and fans were treated to the first official trailer this past week. While some viewers seemed impressed with what they saw, there were those who had some strong thoughts about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s look as Maui. The biggest point of contention there seems to be the wig Johnson is wearing while playing the character, and fans have been roasting it. Johnson has also shared comments on wearing the faux locks, and his description of that doesn’t sound that pleasant.

What Have Fans Been Saying About The Rock’s Maui Hair?

It’s long been known that Johnson would reprise his role as the tattooed demigod in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake. However, aside from a few stray set photos, fans didn’t have a good look at the wrestler-turned-actor in costume until just recently. Following the trailer drop, many took to social media, and they didn’t hold back their thoughts. Many seem to believe the wig seems a bit clunky or awkward. Check out what just a handful of fans on X had to say about the hair:

• The Rock could’ve paid his own money to get a better wig. Who sent the PA, at Disney, to the beauty store to get that pack of yaki? - @AshleyShyMiller
• I know the Wicked wig techs saw that Moana trailer and giggled - @paulswhtn
• Disney got too much money to have Dwayne in that Freetress shake-and-go synthetic wig in the live action Moana trailer. - @GeauxGabrielle
• Idk how to explain it but even with a wig it still gives The Rock - @tinaturttle
• I think people don’t know what they’re upset about. My issue isn’t The Rock playing him. My issue is they should have done better with the character design. It’s just the same Rock with the tattoos and a lazy badly done wig. - @Kevin_Omega_97

Anyone who wants to better understand just how far-reaching this wig situation has become should know that even “Weird Al” Yankovic weighed in on it. This past week, the comedian and singer shared a still of The Rock as his Moana character and mused that the “Weird Al biopic sequel is currently on hold” but that actors “keep sending in headshots.” All in all, it feels as though the Internet is having a lot of fun with all of this, but that’s apparently not the feeling Johnson had while filming.

Why Was It Uncomfortable For Dwayne Johnson To Film As Maui?

It goes without saying that The Rock had a lot of fake hair on his head, and such wigs can be quite heavy. The director of the film, Thomas Kail previously said the hair weighed 7 pounds wet. Johnson himself spoke about that during a recent interview with EW and revealed just how much the wig – along with his prosthetics and a body suit – weighed. (And I’m shaking at the mere thought of having to wear all of that):

Having an extra 40 pounds of weight on me under any circumstances seems tiring, so I can’t even imagine having to act and be physical while keeping all of that on. I suppose that’s why Johnson is a professional, though, as this movie was far from his first rodeo. On that note, before he began production on Moana, he also had to gain muscle for The Smashing Machine and hold onto that body mass to film as Maui. (I feel like I need a nap due to just explaining that.)

Moving away from The Rock’s hair brouhaha and his time filming, though, it seems there are those who are still curious regarding the need for a live-action Moana movie in the first place. Despite that, Thomas Kail admitted that the OG film is “in people’s molecules,” but he still felt there was an opportunity to tell a great story in live-action. Also, Dwayne Johnson discussed his desire to further showcase Polynesian culture through the movie. Hopefully, that all shines through beyond the much-discussed wig.

The live-action Moana film is set to hit theaters on July 10 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, fans can grab a Disney+ subscription and stream the 2016 animated flick on which the remake is based as well as its 2024 sequel.

A remake of Moana is on the 2026 movie schedule for this summer, marking the newest of Disney Animated movies to get the live-action treatment yet. Now, the new movie’s director has shared his thoughts on why he thinks the 2016 movie deserves to be retold already.

Thomas Kail, who famously helmed Hamilton (on-stage and the version on Disney+), is the filmmaker behind the live-action Moana movie. While he said he knows the original film “is in people’s molecules”, he explained why he took on the live-action challenge with these words:

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kail communicated that he was excited by the idea of human actors retelling the story of the movie despite the comparisons between the beloved animated original being inevitable. The movie sees Dwayne Johnson reprising his role of Maui in 40 pounds of prosthetics and newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia (who is currently 19) as Moana.

Dwayne Johnson has said that he was personally excited to play the character again for a different medium as a chance to “showcase our Polynesian culture” while also communicating that he’s aware how “good” the original is and wanting to be “protective” of that. The Rock has also said that the live-action film was representing Polynesian culture “in every department,” including “some department heads, story, development,” and so forth.

Earlier this week, the biggest look at the new Moana movie was released, showing off a peek at a ton of the modern classic’s greatest moments. You can check out the latest trailer below:

The trailer has clearly made a big splash, given it already has 5 million views, but there’s been a lot of negative reactions over it – Weird Al even took a shot at The Rock’s wig! Much like the commentary that came out when the first footage for the live-action Moana dropped, with fans asking “why did we need this?” and even likening it to “an SNL skit”.

It’s the job of Thomas Kail (and the other filmmakers) to prove audiences wrong and show people that the movie is worth the price of admission. So far, most live-action Disney remakes have been huge commercial wins for the House of Mouse, with remakes for Lilo & Stitch, The Lion King, The Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and Alice in Wonderland making over $1 billion each at the worldwide box office. It’s hard to argue with those numbers!

You can see Moana only in theaters on July 10.

Though the 2026 movie schedule has already had its share of blockbusters, audiences are going to be able to watch a wealth of big-budget spectacles this summer. One such probable hit is the live-action Moana, starring newcomer Catherine Laga‘aia, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his popular role as Maui. When he agreed to take his part from the animated classic to live action, however, I doubt he thought there’d be as much talk about his Maui wig as there has been, and now Weird Al just made the very unexpected move of trolling him over it.

What Weird Al Said About Dwayne Johnson’s Live Action Moana Maui Wig

There is no shortage of upcoming Disney movies on the docket, and one that’s had people talking is the live action remake of the 2016 hit, Moana. Many fans were impressed with the first teaser, which dropped in November, but there were also a lot of viewers who threw a side eye at the wig Dwayne Johnson (who recently wrapped Jumanji 4) is sporting to play Maui. I’m guessing that one of those people was musical parody king "Weird Al" Yankovic, as he recently took a rather random shot at the star’s look in the new film, after the full trailer debuted. Observe:

OK, Al! Talk about brutal! Look, he’s not wrong that the wig is somewhat Weird Al-adjacent. We all know that if a Weird Al biopic sequel is on tap, the only person who should play him would be a returning Daniel Radcliffe. However, I now can’t get over the idea of Johnson in his Moana Maui wig as maybe a version of Al in, say, a dream sequence being had by Radcliffe’s version of the five-time Grammy winner. What’s that you say? You think that idea is confusing? Guys, it doesn’t have to make sense to be funny!

At any rate, while the singer is known for his curls, as is the animated demigod, Johnson, uh… isn’t. And, this is likely one thing that has really thrown fans off when it comes to him portraying Maui in the flesh. We just aren’t used to seeing him with a mane of free-flowing locks, folks. But, you can rest assured that the team behind Moana did take care when creating Maui’s follicular fortitude in the upcoming film.

What’s The Deal With Dwayne Johnson’s Live Action Moana Maui Wig?

Obviously, Moana has real importance when it comes to showcasing Polynesian culture in a fun way, and while I don’t think the hair will take away from that, it certainly has been a topic of conversation since we got the teaser. We’ve now gotten an even better look at it with the release of the first full trailer, and director Thomas Kail spoke to Entertainment Weekly about how important the wig was, because part of Maui’s “spiritual energy” is about his looks, which includes that gorgeous head of hair. As Kail said of the wig:

Johnson revealed in the same article that, all told, he had “an additional 40 pounds” of prosthetics and hair to deal with while performing, which is wild. Honestly, I think all we need to do is just watch that trailer a few more times, and we’ll get used to seeing the wrestler-turned-actor in his new, relatively hirsute, form. Weird Al’s thoughts on the wig, though, will never cease to be funny.

It’s only been a decade since the original animated Moana debuted and became one of Disney Animation’s biggest modern hits. And yet, those ten years are long enough, as the movie will be the most recent release to receive the live-action remake treatment. It will also see the return of one of the film’s original voice actors when Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui. Johnson understands that this movie has some big shoes to fill, and it sounds like he put a lot of time and care into one specific aspect of it.

The recency and quality of the original Moana were absolutely on the actor’s mind while making the new live-action Moana. In a new video posted to Instagram, Johnson said he was very protective of Moana because that first movie was so good. He explained…

One of the major problems that people have with Disney live-action remakes is that, in most cases, the movie being remade is a literal classic. So their feeling is that there’s little to be gained from a remake. Johnson seems to understand this very clearly. He knows that a remake of Moana that doesn’t match the quality of the original is going to be a disappointment for fans.

As part of that, today, we got a new trailer for the live-action Moana, one that gives us our first look at Dwayne Johnson’s live-action Maui. It’s hard to imagine that The Rock could look small in any movie, though compared to his animated counterpart, he certainly does. Also, while perhaps accurate, I’m going to have to get used to that hair.

The incredible success of Moana 2 at the global box office ensures that the audience for this newest iteration of Moana is certainly there. It feels like the live-action reamke is all but assured a massive opening weekend.

Now, the only question is whether it will have the long-term box office success it will need to be the sort of billion-dollar blockbuster that the top Disney live-action remakes have been. That will be determined by whether those fans think the movie did live up to the original, so Dwayne Johnson’s protection of that film makes perfect sense. He, and all of Disney, surely want this movie to look more like Lilo & Stitch than Snow White in when it comes to its financial results.

And success with the remake likely means even more Moana in the future. The animated sequel hinted at a future for that franchise, and the more animated Moana movies they make, the more opportunity there will be for live-action sequels if this first movie is a success.

Disney has unleashed the first trailer for its live-action Moana, and within minutes, the internet made one thing extremely clear: fans are not holding back. What could have been a celebratory moment for Disney’s newest live-action remake instead turned into a tidal wave of skepticism, confusion, and full-blown roast sessions. The 2026 movie schedule release, starring Catherine Laga‘aia as the titular hero and Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, is already facing an uphill battle, and the initial fan reaction proves it.

The trailer, posted on Disney’s official YouTube channel, racked up views fast—but the comments section became a battleground even faster. After scrolling through thousands of comments, three major themes emerged. Here’s how viewers are reacting in the comments.

Why Are We Remaking A Movie That Isn’t Even 10 Years Old?

This sentiment is everywhere. Scroll one inch and you’ll find someone stunned that a 2016 film is already getting the remake treatment. Here are what fans in this camp are feeling:

• “There’s Treasure Planet, there’s Atlantis, there’s Princess and the Frog and we got a movie that isn’t 10 years yet?” – @oyinariv2739
• “Now we’re remaking movies that aren’t even ten years old.” – @hoodartificial5920
• “IT'S ONLY BEEN NINE YEARS!!!!! WE DO NOT NEED A REMAKE!!!!!” – @cyclops8238
• “This movie won’t even be 10 years old when the remake comes out!” – @Ninjagofan360
• “New rule: a film needs to be at least old enough to drink before it can be remade.” – @imjuil4108
• “Ah yes cause Moana 2016 is such an outdated film that definitely needed a remake.” – @SelfDescribedNerd

One commenter summed up the group in this camp: “Disney feels officially creatively bankrupt at this point.” But not everyone felt this way.

Why Moana Before Tangled, Princess and the Frog, or Atlantis?

Personally, if Disney insists on remaking their classics, I’ve always felt the smartest move is to revisit a film that isn’t already a modern classic; something with a great premise that never quite got its due. Based on the YouTube comments, a whole lot of fans feel the same way. Many are questioning why this movie is getting the live-action spotlight instead of titles fans have been begging for. Some of the standout reactions include:

• “A Moana remake before Tangled and Princess and the Frog is crazy.” – @kevin_jaimes35694
• “Moana getting a live action “remake” before Frozen is just hilarious.” – @CoreZeroPH
• “We could have gotten an Atlantis or Treasure Planet remake, but we got this.” @ItsHamberg3r
• “... I am surprised Disney hasn’t thought of remaking Treasure Planet or Atlantis, as those two films have so much potential in live action!”@snowsugardashietheaircatgi932
• “A prequel about Maui would've made way more sense.” – @richardhill6949

Notably, the live-action Tangled is reportedly back on track and will be hitting theaters before you know it. And then there were the viewers who took a playful jab at what they believe might be the real motivation behind the project:

• “Did they just make this because The Rock needed to show up personally?” – @voidedabsolution
• “I bet Dwayne Johnson was the one to push this movie to be made.” – @krysgg7600

Honestly? The idea of The Rock championing a project isn’t exactly far-fetched. He famously drove the creative push behind Black Adam and the attempt to recenter the DCEU around his character. But as sharp as these comments are, they lead directly into another, even more blunt camp of fan frustration.

Enough With The Live Action Remakes, Already

The third major wave of frustration centers on a familiar question: Why are we still doing these live-action remakes—especially when the footage looks more AI-generated than “live action”? A lot of viewers say the remake doesn’t look live-action at all, just heavily processed CGI with actors dropped in. Some of the standout comments include:

• “The term ‘Live Action’ is doing some real heavy lifting here.” – @jonnyboy1925
• “So basically it’s still animated, just with live humans inserted into it.” – @Aweschumm
• “This somehow looks more digital than the original movie did.” – @FoundFootage100
• “So much CG even the real footage looks animated.” – @LILGHETTI
• “This looks like those live-action concept trailers people would make in 2012.” – @autisticsonicfan
• “If you titled it ‘AI Fan-Made Moana Movie Teaser,’ I’d totally believe it.” – @jd38

One user, @spicychikn3336, dropped the line that might haunt Disney’s marketing team: “Disney… this looks fan-made… we have a problem here.”

It might sound like we’re cherry-picking negativity, but genuinely, the overwhelming majority of the comments fall into this exact tone. The reaction isn’t just mixed, but almost universally skeptical.

Whether the remake will ultimately win audiences over remains to be seen, but for now, the trailer’s reception suggests Disney might be facing its stormiest waters yet. Moana’s live-action remake hits theaters on July 10, 2026.

The first Moana was a massive hit for Walt Disney Animation Studios, the sort that we knew would launch a franchise. We've already seen a sequel, and considering Disney's success with live-action remakes, seeing one for Moana down the road seemed quite likely, but fans were shocked when we learned we'd be getting one so soon, as it's now only months away.

Now we have our first look at the live-action Moana, as a teaser has dropped. It's a brief one (less than a minute long), but it makes it clear that we see when the movie comes out next year will likely be exactly what fans of the original are hoping for, as the new movie truly looks like the animated hit brought to life. You can check out the full teaser above.

Potentially the most interesting thing about the new Moana teaser is what we don't see. There's no good look at Dwayne Johnson, who will be playing Maui, reprising the role he originated in the animated movie. We get a few shots of Maui in his various animal forms, and a couple of looks at his body, but we never see his face.

I suppose there's something the marketing needs to keep secret, in order to keep people excited, and since everybody knows the plot, Maui is going to be kept back, for at least a little while.

The teaser gives us several key scenes that fans of the original will recognize. We see young Moana meeting the ocean for the first time. We get our first look at the kakamora coconut warriors. The most successful Disney remakes have been the ones that have been the most faithful to the source material, and Moana looks to be going that route.

Another thing the remake looks to have in common with the original is being visually stunning. Moana was some of the most beautiful animation we've seen out of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The remake was filmed on location in Hawai'i, and so there's some truly great scenery here.

It's certainly possible there's more to this new story. The teaser is clearly showing memorable moments, even the coconut going on the head of a screaming Hei Hei, as a way to excite fans, but it's possible we could get some changes to parts of the story we don't see here.

The teaser certainly picked the right music. The "I Am Moana" sequence never fails to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and this version is certainly no different. I've had my issues with Disney remakes in the past, but if the new Moana can truly recreate the experience of watching the original, it will all be worth it.

The summer movie season may be slowing down, but there’s plenty of Walt Disney Studios movies to look forward to on the 2026 movie schedule and in the years to come. Over the summer, the company had one of the biggest movies of the season with $1 billion hit Toy Story 5 and a misfire with the live-action Moana. So, what’s next for the House of Mouse? A lot was just revealed at the D23 Expo's Entertainment Showcase. You can take a look below and find out!

Before you continue, we should note that The Walt Disney Company also has a bunch more than you’ll see here. There are upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday on the way this holiday season and more Star Wars movies like Starfighter coming next summer. Here’s a look at everything Disney has announced for the rest of this year and all the years to come.

Whalefall

Release date: October 16, 2026

Another 20th Century Studios film, Whalefall is based on a novel by Daniel Kraus. It’s about a man scuba diving in search of his fathers remains, who is accidentally swallowed by a whale, and must find a way to escape. It stars Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, and Elisabeth Shue and is written and helmed by Brian Duffield. You can learn the story behind how it became a movie as we wait for it.

Wild Horse Nine

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Searchlight Pictures has a black comedy starring the likes of John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. It’s about two longtime CIA officers living in 1973 who get stationed in Easter Island. The movie is written and directed by In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin filmmaker Martin McDonagh. And, it’s coming out out just in time for awards season.

Hexed

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Announced during Disney’s Destination D23 event in August 2025, Hexed is an original story from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The original animated film follows a teenager named Billie and his “Type-A” mother who discover she has magical abilities. This discovery leads them to a world where magic can run free. Hailee Steinfeld plays Billie and Rashida Jones voices her mom, Alice. It was just announced at D23 Expo that Walton Goggins as a green three-eyed cat named Beef Roger Crumbchuck. Disney legend, Jodie Foster was also announced to be voicing her first animated role for the studio at the villain.

Behemoth!

Release Date: December 4, 2026

Pedro Pascal already leads The Mandalorian & Grogu in the Star Wars Universe and as Mr. Fantastic in the MCU, but this is something different. Behemoth! is a drama from Searchlight Pictures that follows a prolific cellist who returns to Los Angeles to compose film scores. The movie was written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who memorably helmed Rogue One and its spinoff Andor. Behemoth! also stars Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Will Arnett and Matthew Lillard.

Ice Age: Boiling Point

Release Date: February 5, 2027

After Blue Sky Studios shut down in 2021, there was a time when more Ice Age movies seemed out of the realm of possibility. However, when it was acquired by The Walt Disney Company as part of its acquisition of 20th Century Fox that soon changed. The new movie brings back all our favorite characters from the series: Ray Romano’s Manny, John Leguizamo’s Sid, Denis Leary’s Diego, Queen Latifah’s Ellie and Simon Pegg’s “Buck” Wild. At D23, we say a first look that included a little friend for Scrat that's gonna be a big hit for sure.

Gatto

Release Date: March 5, 2027

The upcoming original Pixar title is set in Venice and focuses on a cat named Nero who needs to pay back a debt to a feline mob boss. This leads Nero into an unlikely partnership with a street musician. It comes from the filmmaker of Luca, Enrico Casarosa. It stars Mark Ruffalo as the leading kitty, who was pitched on the movie after the filmmakers noticed his love for cats on Instagram. You can check out the first Gatto trailer as we wait for it.

Monitor

Release Date: April 30, 2027

Searchlight Pictures is known for snatching up buzzy movies at film festivals, and they did so at the 2026’s SXSW with Monitor. It’s a horror film by new Texas-based filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly. Monitor follows a group of internet content moderators who accidentally unleash a demonic entity across their screens and beyond.

Beach Read

Release Date: May 7, 2027

Emily Henry has become a formidable name in romance novels, and now she’s got a bunch of adaptations of her books on the way. The next one (after Netflix’s People We Meet On Vacation) is for Beach Read from 20th Century Studios. The rom-com is about a romance novelist named January Andrews who is spending her summer in her late father’s old beach house. There, she runs into her former college rival, an acclaimed literary fiction author, Augustus Everett. As they both admit to be struggling with writer’s block, they decide to challenge each other to write a novel in the other’s specialty genre. Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor will be playing January and Patrick Schwarzenegger will be Everett.

The Bluey Movie

Release Date: August 6, 2027

Bluey, the Australian animated kids show, has proven to be a hit for all ages and is regularly among the most-watched shows on Disney+. Disney will also distribute a feature-length Bluey movie in 2027 directed by the show’s creator Joe Brumm and giving the show’s beloved characters a big-screen debut. The first teaser we saw at D23 showed that the animation style will be 3D. It looks great.

The New Simpsons Movie

Release Date: September 3, 2027

20 years after their last big screen endeavor The Simpsons will once again hit the big screen thanks to Disney’s 20th Century Studios. We don’t have many details about the plot of this one yet.

Frozen III

Release Date: November 24, 2027

Frozen is too big of a phenomenon to not receive another sequel, and it’s on the way for next fall. We know the third movie will feature Anna and Kristoff having a royal wedding. Plus, a mysterious adventure will once again have Elsa using her magical abilities to save her family and kingdom. The Frozen 3 release date for November 2027. Jennifer Lee previously confirmed that the story will probably require two movies, though when we’ll see the second one has yet to be officially announced. At D23, we saw the first teaser which included a mysterious new character.

Ghost Market

Release Date: March 10, 2028

The next Pixar original after Gatto is coming in 2028 and it's the studio's first supernatural ghost story. It's about a teenager and content creator named Kyle who is "forced" to go on vacation to Hawai'i by his mom. During the trip, while on the hunt for a midnight snack, he comes across a haunted market.

Tangled

Release Date: March 31, 2028

The next live-action Disney movie is a remake of 2010 favorite, Tangled. The movie stars newcomer Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. It's currently being filmed on location in Spain by director Michael Gracey, who previously helmed The Greatest Showman.

Lilo & Stitch 2

Release Date: May 26, 2028

The sequel to the live action Lilo & Stitch was announced quickly after the first film's success, and the release date has already been set, indicating this movie is on the fast track. We expect to see Maia Kealoha’s Lilo, Sydney Agudong’s Nani. The voice of Stitch, Chris Sanders is not only back as Experiment 626, he’ll also direct after co-writing/directing the original movie. At D23, it was announced that the movie will introduce Angel, who is another experiment and Stitch's love interest from the animated series.

Incredibles 3

Release Date: June 16, 2028

Officially announced as being in development at D23 2024, Incredibles 3 has a summer release date which places its release at exactly a decade since the last one came out. Life moves as fast as Dash does! The movie is being penned and produced by Brad Bird, but this time he’s moving aside and leaving directing duties to Elemental’s Peter Sohn. At D23, it was announced that the movie will focus on the Parr kids and feature the return of Frozone and Edna Mode.

Clay

Release Date: November 2028

Walt Disney Animation's next original film after Hexed is called Clay. It will star Oscar winner Kieran Culkin as the titular character Clay, who becomes the mentor to a piece of Clay named Mooshy. The visuals are very whimsical and vibrant. It comes from Wish co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: February 16, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: March 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: May 25, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Animation

Release Date: June 15, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed animated movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: August 3, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: October 5, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: November 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Coco 2

Release Date: November 21, 2029

Coco 2 is in development, and officially on the way for the fall of 2029, as announced at D23. The animated sequel will follow Miguel, who's now a teenager. We know that Benjamin Bratt's Ernesto de la Cruz will be coming back to get his revenge and Miguel will reunite with Mama Coco in the Land of the Dead.

Avatar 4

Release Date: December 21, 2029

James Cameron has said that parts of Avatar 4 were filmed alongside Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, but another massive production will need to get underway to finish out the five-movie cycle. Cameron had hinted the last two films may not actually happen, but thus far, we still expect them.

Avatar 5

Release Date: December 19, 2031

The final Avatar movie will finally arrive in 2031, assuming there are no more delays, or plans change for James Cameron.

Recent Releases

Are you looking for a recently released Walt Disney Company movie that already came out that you may have missed? Check out how you can watch the latest movies that came out within the past year below:

Now In Theaters
The Dog Stars

Now Streaming On Disney+
The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Devil Wears Prada
Orangutan
Hoppers

Now Streaming On Hulu
The Devil Wears Prada
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
In The Blink Of An Eye

Available To Buy/Rent
Toy Story 5 (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on September 22 & Disney+ on September 23)
Moana (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on October 6)

They say every role leaves a mark—but in the case of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one role may have physically shaped another. Long before production on the live-action Moana reboot began, Johnson underwent a radical transformation for A24’s biopic The Smashing Machine. And, as it turns out, a lot of that work stuck, impacting his return as Maui in a way I hadn’t realized.

While he may be heading back to the beach for the upcoming Disney live-action movie, Johnson brought more than charm and demigod tattoos this time around. In a new interview with Variety, the Fast and Furious alum opened up about the toll Benny Safdie’s acclaimed 2025 movie release took on him—emotionally and physically. After bulking up to portray real-life fighter Mark Kerr, Johnson said he had just two weeks before rolling straight into Moana. He explained:

For The Rock, the transformation wasn’t just about size, but speed and authenticity to the character. For The Smashing Machine, he trained like a wrestler, not a bodybuilder, to mirror Kerr’s explosive power. However, that aesthetic overlaps with Maui’s larger-than-life persona, yet the intention behind it was completely different. Smashing Machine demanded physical brutality and emotional vulnerability. On the other hand, Moana demanded a Disney-level combination of charisma and presence. Somehow, the Mummy Returns veteran had to carry both.

Johnson looks a bit different now, though. Fans who’ve followed the Black Adam star’s recent red carpet appearances may have noticed another transformation—he’s significantly leaner now, dropping weight for a very different kind of role. Per People's reporting from TIFF, Johnson is reuniting with Safdie after The Smashing Machine, but this time for something entirely unexpected. He explained to a crowd at TIFF:

From The Smashing Machine to Moana, and now back again with Safdie for another bold transformation, Dwayne Johnson’s movie career feels more exciting—and more dynamic—than ever. He’s really turning a corner as a film star, and it's clear how much he’s poured into these recent roles.

The behind-the-scenes physical transformation offers a glimpse of what to expect from the live-action Moana as it approaches its release amid the 2026 movie schedule. Maui won’t just be a CGI-enhanced spectacle but a physically grounded presence, thanks in large part to the minimal turnaround time between roles. In a way, The Rock is bringing some of The Smashing Machine’s emotional and physical weight to the shores of Motunui, and that’s a version of Maui I didn’t see coming (but can’t wait to watch).

If you’re looking forward to upcoming Dwayne Johnson movies, you’re gonna want to mark your calendars as The Smashing Machine hits theaters on October 3. Also, the live-action version of Moana will be released on July 10, 2026.

When people visit Disneyland, one of the things they love to do is visit their favorite Disney characters. From Minnie and Mickey to Iron Man and Kylo Ren, Disney’s most popular characters can be spoken to, hugged (maybe not Kylo Ren), and photos can be taken to remember the experience. For some, no ride is as important as hugging their favorite Disney Princess.

But Disneyland guests got an even better experience recently when the actual Disney Princesses appeared and performed a live concert. As part of Disney’s World Princess Week, The Little Mermaid’s Jodi Benson, Beauty and the Beast’s Paige O’Hara, Moana’s Auliʻi Cravalho, and The Princess and the Frog’s Anika Noni Rose all performed together live in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, captured on Twitter, and this is the Disney magic I live for:

Moments like this make the world feel just that little bit less like a dumpster fire. Something like this almost certainly won’t happen again, which makes the fact that it happened all quite special.

Two other members of Disney royalty, Hercules' Susan Egan and Ginnifer Goodwin, of both Once Upon a Time and Zootopia, hosted the event, making the entire experience quite special for those lucky enough to be in the park to see it. The full concert will be broadcast on YouTube starting August 29 and will be available with a Disney+ subscription at some point soon.

Being able to see any one of these great stars in person would be special. Being able to see all of them perform together, and in front of the iconic Disneyland castle, would be the most amazing thing I can think of. The only thing about this that isn’t perfect is that I wasn’t in the park to see it.

Seeing Paige O’Hara on stage to sing Belle's songs of from in Beauty and the Beast is an especially big deal. O’Hara hasn’t been the “official” voice of Belle since 2011. While she voiced the character for the Disney Princess appearances in Ralph Breaks the Internet and the recent Once Upon a Studio animated short, this is, as far as I know, the first time she has publicly performed Beauty and the Beast songs in a very long time.

On the flip side, this might be the second time this year that some fans may have seen Susan Egan at Disneyland. The voice of Meg from Hercules made an unannounced appearance during Disneyland’s ‘90s Nite After Hours event and even sang “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” during the karaoke at the Golden Horseshoe.

All-in-all, this was a truly royal experience, and honestly, seeing all these princesses together made my week.

A.I. is now a major topic of conversation in every major industry, it seems, and Hollywood is certainly no different. It’s being adopted to varying degrees to handle a variety of responsibilities, but one place we apparently won’t see it is in the upcoming live-action Moana remake. At least, not as it pertains to Dwayne Johnson’s performance as Maui.

A new piece in the Wall Street Journal takes a look at how the House of Mouse is walking something of a tightrope when it comes to using A.I. Disney, along with Universal, have filed a major lawsuit for copyright infringement against one A.I. company, but has also been exploring how it might be possible to use A.I. technology in movie production, as it nearly did just that.

The Live-Action Moana Could Have Included An A.I. Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson is set to reprise his role from the original Moana and play Maui in next year's live-action remake. According to the journal, Disney spent some amount of time working on an idea that would have seen The Rock’s stand-in, Johnson’s cousin Tanoai Reed, have A.I. deepfake technology applied to his performance to make him look like Dwayne Johnson, allowing The Rock to be seen in two places at once.

According to the report, Disney has since moved away from this plan, and the A.I. Maui won’t be seen the live-action Moana. However, the reason for this seems to have less to do with the ability to make the technology work, and more to do with logistical details and legal complications regarding deployment and security concerns.

It’s also said that there was a worry that if A.I. generated part of the film, Disney might not be able to claim complete ownership of the movie. It’s perhaps an understandable reason to walk away considering copyright is a major issue in Disney’s other major A.I. endeavor.

Disney Is Involved In A Major AI Lawsuit

In June, Disney and Universal filed suit together against A.I. company Midjourney for alleged copying of copyrighted material. Clearly, while the company sees AI has a potential tool that it can use, the possibility for other to use it against them is also being considered.

While A.I. wasn’t used in the case of Moana, it seems quite likely it will be used by Disney in the future. A new Netflix series recently used A.I. in a visual effect. James Cameron, the creator of The Terminator, has recently suggested A.I. might be necessary as a way to bring down the costs of big budget films.

Red tape may have ultimately stopped an A.I. Maui from appearing in Moana, but if the questions and problems that companies like Disney have today can be addressed, it seems all but certain that major studios will use A.I. We just don't know when or how quite yet.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some pretty famous people in this job, but one star I would love to meet that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of crossing paths with is Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m a big fan of basically everything he’s ever done, and it would be wonderful to be able to tell him that in person.

One person who I now know feels the same way is Disney Dan. The man who is best known for his in-depth videos on theme park costumed characters recently had the opportunity to meet the Hamilton and Moana songwriter. So, of course, he did not throw away his shot. In pure Disney Dan fashion, he met Miranda while dressed in a giant chicken costume, and the only thing better is the look on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s face when he spies Hei Hei from across the room. Check it out.

That's priceless, no notes. First, you can see Lin-Manuel Miranda's reaction looking like he can’t believe what he’s seeing, then he walks over to meet “Hei Hei.” It’s just the most cordial exchange in the world, like he’s not shaking hands with a giant chicken. [Insert Animaniacs joke here.]

While Dan’s trademark laugh is on full display here, you can still tell he’s truly honored to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda in person. Miranda seems to understand that he's talking to a true fan and treats the experience that way.

If you're in the theme park sphere, then you likely know Disney Dan. His YouTube channel covers a variety of theme park-related topics, but is primarily focused on the history and evolution of character costumes in theme parks.

Dan’s passion for the massive costumes that are worn in theme parks has led to a love of costumes in general for him. He’s previously visited Epic Universe dressed as Toothless and ridden Universal’s Cat in the Hat ride as the Cat in the Hat.

This is far from the first time that Disney Dan has gotten a strong reaction from a costume. This is the same guy who showed up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the last day of Muppet*Vision 3D in a Monsters Inc. mask and trolled guests watching the show one last time, with the IP that is set to replace the attraction. To my knowledge, he didn’t show up at the closure of the Rivers of America in a Cars-themed costume, but he did threaten to do so.

Honestly, this whole exchange just makes me want to hang out with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney Dan together. They both seem like people who would have a good time together and are more than willing to have a little fun at their own expense.

‘Ohana clearly means a lot to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in terms of his relationship with Disney. Not only has he embraced the role of Maui in Moana and its sequel (both streamable with a Disney+ subscription), but he’ll be reprising the iconic demigod in the upcoming live-action Disney remake. Ahead of that film's release, though the former wrestler congratulated the Lilo & Stitch remake on its box office success.

Disney’s live-action remakes have had varied performances as of late. Mufasa surpassed Sonic the Hedgehog 3 during its box office run, though it received mixed reviews. Snow White also received middling reactions and struggled hard at the box office. However, Lilo & Stitch has crushed at the box office during Memorial Day weekend, nabbing over $145 million domestically.

Even before those final figures came in, tracking numbers looked good, which is what likely prompted The Rock to share the following message on Instagram:

I’m sure it means a whole lot for Dwayne Johnson to see another Disney movie that embraces Polynesian culture achieve box office success. Lilo & Stitch, which marks the return of one of the best pets in Hollywood history, seems to be striking a chord with a new generation of viewers and possibly even those who grew up on the 2002 film on which it's based. The 2025 movie release's run is only just beginning, but it's off to a stellar start!

The Rock's connection to Polynesian culture comes from his mother, who is of Samoan heritage. His maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, was known as the “High Chief” in Samoan wrestling. All in all, Johnson seems to have embraced his roots. He’s even got a Samoan Pe’a tattoo on his left side that tells the story of his ancestry and he and wife Lauren Hasian had a secret wedding in Hawaii in 2019.

Hawaii also seems to play a role in Dwayne Johnson’s work. The actor previously said getting to film Jumanji in Hawaii was important to him, as it gave him a chance to connect further with his Polynesian culture.

Johnson's role as Maui has been impactful for him as well. While discussing the role, he's talked about providing authentic Polynesian representation, touching families around the world in the process. If the Moana remake can channel the culture as well, it could possibly reinforce the importance of telling diverse stories that will inspire audiences across the globe. See Johnson’s full Instagram post below:

Maui may be used to saying “You’re welcome,” but Lilo & Stitch’s box office success just got “a grateful congrats” from Dwayne Johnson. I love seeing the A-lister give props to the newly released film, which you can see in theaters now. Also, check out The Rock as a live-action Maui when the live-action Moana remake hits theaters on July 10, 2026.

One of the most exciting things about being a Disney fan is seeing how the imagination that comes out of Disney movies translates into new Disney World attractions. Imagineers are always transforming the House of Mouse’s theme parks to reflect the most popular and beloved films. And now that Moana 2 has become the highest-grossing Walt Disney Animated movie behind the Frozen movies (and has been dominating on Disney+), I asked two of the musical’s voice actors about how they’d like to see their characters enter Disney Parks.

Moana currently has a presence in EPCOT in Orlando, Florida with a water trail attraction called the Journey of Water. The garden depicts the Earth’s water cycle and includes Te Fiti, Hei Hei, Pua and Moana. But as I told Matangi voice actress Awhimai Fraser, when watching her character’s “Get Lost” sequence, I could imagine Moana 2 getting a ride. Here’s how she replied:

How cool would it be to feel like you're riding the waves with Moana and her crew? I can totally imagine an indoor ride that takes guests through both the first and second film, and I know the “Get Lost” sequence would be a favorite moment. Despite Barlow and Bear dealing with criticism over the soundtrack, I think Matangi’s song is a total banger!

During CinemaBlend’s recent visit to Walt Disney Animation in Burbank, California, Hualālai Chung, aka Moana 2’s Moni, was beside Fraser while we talked about Disney Parks ideas. Here’s what he had to say about his character being part of an attraction:

Now this is just perfect. While we love a good ride, thrills are not for everyone. I know when I go to Disney’s California Adventure, I always love dropping by the Animation Academy where there’s rotating lessons where you can learn to draw various Disney characters. How fun would it be for a Disney character to teach you the ways of Moni? It sounds so interactive and fun.

We hope imagineers are reading this! While these are just brainstorming ideas, Moana 2 did have a limited presence in the Disney Parks when the movie was released in fall. As Disney Parks Blog detailed at the time, Moana got a new look for appearances at DCA and the Journey of Water at EPCOT, five characters were added to draw at The Animation Experience at Animal Kingdom and Moana was added to World of Color.

While you’re checking out all things Moana 2, check out what the filmmakers told us about Disney easter eggs and recording the emotional ending scene with The Rock.

SPOILERS are ahead for Moana 2, now streaming on Disney+ and available to buy on digital and Blu-ray.

Did you stay after the credits of Moana 2? Yes, end credit scenes are typically saved for MCU movies, but the Walt Disney Animation sequel included one to show off its big bad, Nalo, in the flesh and give Tamotoa a hilarious little cameo. When CinemaBlend sat down with two out of three of the movie's directors, Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr., to talk about Moana 2 spoilers like Moana’s death scene and what Disney easter eggs to look for, I asked them all about the decision and what it means for a possible third film.

Why Moana 2 Has An End Credit Scene, According to The Directors

While end credit scenes have typically been found in films to tease more movies, that’s not the impression I got from filmmakers Hand and Derrick when they discussed their decision to have one in Moana 2. First, here’s what Hand had to say:

After the gargantuan coconut crab known as Tamotoa became a favorite in the first Moana for singing the goofy song “Shiny” and being voiced by the hilarious Jemaine Clement, the directors had to bring the character back for the sequel, but they had a difficult time finding where he would organically fit. They ultimately opted to add him in an epilogue moment alongside Nalo.

It’s a clever scene since Tamotoa is such a different villain than the storm god, Nalo. As Derrick Jr. added:

As he shared, the scene with Nalo, Matangi and Tamotoa was long in Moana 2, but initially as the movie’s end. However, they ultimately decided they wanted the film to officially end on Moana finishing her adventure, and leave the scene as a bit of an afterthought after the credits start to roll.

What Does The End Credit Scene Mean For Moana 3?

Moana 2 made $1.059 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming one of the third highest-grossing Walt Disney Animation movies of all time (behind the Frozen films). So, I imagined the filmmakers were already thinking up ideas for Moana 3 and the end credit scene was one avenue in.

However, as Jason Hand reminded me with his answer, Disney movies take years and years of development, and it’s perhaps too soon for them to look at what could be next. Here’s what he said when I asked him if Moana 3 was on the brain when they made the end credits scene:

Considering Moana 2 is also dominating on Disney+ big time and Moana is such a beloved Disney Princess, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Moana 3 got greenlit tomorrow. However, the movie (which was originally crafted as a Disney+ series), took the filmmakers four years to develop, and I imagine they’d like some time away from the world before coming back.

Should they do so, Moana 2’s end credits have definitely set up that Nalo is still alive and well, and could continue to be the main villain moving forward.

SPOILERS ahead for Moana 2, now on Disney+!

Now that Moana 2 has been a record-breaking box office hit and dominated on Disney+ with the biggest numbers on the streaming service since Encanto, we can say this openly: Moana is a demigod! At the end of the 2024 sequel, Moana risks her life to save her people by diving into the ocean, but rather than dying forever, her ancestors give her the gift of being given the divine status Maui has. When CinemaBlend spoke to the Moana 2 directors about the movie’s ending when we were at Walt Disney Animation earlier this month, they expressed the cultural reason why the ending was so important to The Rock.

Prior to Moana becoming a demigod, you can feel the fear from Maui’s end at first that he’s just lost a friend. When CinemaBlend spoke to directors Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr about what it was like to record the emotional scene with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, they spoke about their insights into the filmmaking process for that scene. As director Jason Hand shared:

In the key Moana 2 scene, Maui, Moana and her crew are attempting to raise back up the island of Motufetu from beneath a storm of waves caused by the storm god, Nalo. As Moana dives into the ocean to touch Motufetu, they both get struck by Nalo’s lightning.

While the bolt strips Maui of his powers, it’s a deadly blow for Moana. When Maui rushes to find Moana dead, he calls on the spirits of Tautai Vasa for help in the song “Manu Vavau”. Director David Derrick Jr then said this of the scene:

While much of the audience who watches may not know the exact words Maui says to the spirits during the song, it's clear he’s using them to ask for help. It’s beautiful to get to hear Dwayne Johnson speak in Samoan for the song, which was written by Samoan songwriter Opetaia Foa’i for the film. (Plus, did you know that The Rock’s character of Maui was influenced by his grandfather?) It sounds like it was an especially emotional scene for The Rock, given he had the chance to sing in the native language of his ancestors for a Disney movie.

In addition to Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow writing the soundtrack (following Lin-Manuel Miranda doing the first movie), Opetaia Foa’i wrote a series of original songs Samoan singers perform throughout said soundtrack to make the movie true to Moana’s origins. How incredible is it that Moana 2 can expose audiences all around the world to Samoan language, culture and mythology?

New to streaming this past week was Moana 2 with its Disney+ premiere on March 12th. This is a huge benefit to those who didn’t get a chance to see our favorite tough-as-nails female Disney character reunite with Maui in theaters. You better believe that the sequel is surging with big numbers from those with a Disney+ subscription, with The Rock celebrating with a big “Chee Hoo.”

The original Moana previously broke records left and right. The Disney flick achieved a box office record by bringing in $2.6 million from Tuesday-paid previews, which is the highest ever for a Walt Disney Studios Animation film and a non-Pixar Disney film. Then the animated musical film became a box office success, achieving $687 million and scoring two Oscar nominations for Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature. Fortunately, the sequel ended up reaching numbers just as outstanding not only in theaters but in its Disney+ debut. Following that success, The Rock made sure to provide his own original way to celebrate his movie’s achievement.

Moana 2 is Making Killer Numbers on Disney+

Moana 2 was already serving up a box office feast this past Thanksgiving bringing in $1.05 billion worldwide in theaters. That would make the sequel the third highest-grossing Walt Disney Animation Studios release of all time.

Just when you thought Moana 2’s Thanksgiving numbers were impressive, its streaming debut on Disney+ was just as amazing. Disney’s press release revealed the Moana follow-up made waves with 27.3 million views globally within its first five days on the streamer. This is the biggest premiere on the Disney streaming service since 2021's Encanto. Not to mention, it’s the third-largest animated theatrical release to premiere on Disney+.

The large number of Moana 2 views has also benefited the first Moana movie which now has 1.4 billion hours streamed on the service. It proves that the journey of the animated Polynesian teenager continues to strike the hearts of moviegoers and streamers combined.

The Rock Made Sure to Celebrate With a Big ‘Chee Hoo!’

The success of Moana 2 not only meant a great deal to Walt Disney Animation Studios but also to its voice actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After the Disney sequel reached its historic box office milestone, Johnson gave a big thank you “for the global embrace of our Polynesian culture” and all those who came to theaters to see it. Now that the American actor is aware of his film’s surging Disney+ numbers, he took to Instagram with a big “Maui chee hooo!” to celebrate with his fans:

In the joyful Instagram video, you can see Dwayne Johnson with the Moana 2 team celebrating its success and thanking those who contributed to it. He continued to express what a big deal the Disney animated movie was to him in inspiring youth and adults to “see beyond what’s in front of them.” And, of course, his speech couldn’t end without letting out his character’s popular “Chee hoo!” catchphrase with the whole room triumphantly joining in. The Polynesian exclamation of excitement was perfectly fitting for such a momentous occasion.

Dwayne Johnson’s character, Maui, may be known for singing “You’re Welcome,” but its voice actor made sure to give a big “Chee Hoo!” for his movie’s big streaming numbers. With Moana 2’s Disney+ views making the sequel the third most-watched animated theatrical release to premiere on the streamer, that means the love for the animated Polynesian characters and their oceanic adventures is stronger than ever.

Feel free to add the Moana movies to your streaming schedule with both movies available to watch on your Disney+ subscription. Make sure to add Disney’s live-action Moana remake to your watchlist in theaters on July 10th, 2026.

Now that Moana 2 is officially available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, fans of all ages can officially put the movie on repeat as they have with the first Moana movie in the comfort of their homes. It was a huge success at the box office, earning the biggest global opening of all time for an animated movie, but a popular complaint among critics had to do with Barlow and Bear’s music in the shadow of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Moana original songs. So when I sat down with the composers of Moana 2, I had to ask the songwriting duo how they’ve handled themselves in the face of criticism.

I must say, Barlow and Bear had a solid take on the whole thing. Here’s what Abigail Barlow had to say when we talked at Walt Disney Animation for the Disney+ release press day:

Haters are going to hate, and the internet is going to the internet, but all the while the Moana 2 songwriters are focusing on what’s important to them. Abigail Barlow called writing the six tracks for the Moana 2 soundtrack a “labor of love” that she and Emily Bear put a lot of work into in between Bear being on the road with Beyoncé for the Renaissance tour (where she played the keys). Here’s what Bear added:

Given "Can I Get A Chee-Hoo" on its own has been streamed on Spotify over 19 million times as of this article's publication, I think they have touched a lot more than a hundred people, don't you think?

By being part of the Moana 2 soundtrack, they became the first women and youngest composer duo in Disney history to write the music for an animated film for the studio. While there can be a lot of noise when you are in a movie that makes $1 billion dollars worldwide, the duo keeps themselves on solid ground by focusing on the people in front of them and the people who did connect with their work.

While there are a lot of people who have called the sequel “not as good as” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first movie, including in our own Moana 2 review, there’s also so many people who absolutely loved the movie and the work Barlow and Bear put into the songs. I know the soundtrack very much had a presence on my Spotify Wrapped for last year, between my deep love for “Beyond” and “Get Lost.” Check out their performance of the latter on YouTube:

In our previous interview with Barlow and Bear, the duo said they wrote three or four “full extra songs” for the movie in addition to what made it into the soundtrack, and “hundreds of different versions” before landing on what we see in the movie. It’s great to hear their responses to the criticism is so centered months after the initial release.

SPOILERS are ahead for Moana 2, now streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Be aware of this (if you somehow haven’t seen the box office hit) before jumping in your canoe and venturing forward.

Moana 2 is the latest of big movies to be new to streaming following its massive theatrical run. And, in celebration of the film's Disney+ debut, CinemaBlend had the chance to talk to two of the directors about a few aspects of it that might have missed the first time you watched it. So, get your remotes ready and follow along with us on some exciting easter eggs and fun tidbits.

There's An Easter Egg That Foreshadows Moana 2's Ending

I thought the most interesting piece of information that David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand shared with me was in regard Moana’s eventual rebirth as a demigod. I don’t think most fans noticed that the tattoos she receives at the end of the movie after risking her life for her people were foreshadowed earlier in the movie. As Derrick shared in our interview:

How cool is that? Given Maui is connected with the ancestors as a demigod, perhaps he had some sort of inkling of Moana becoming a demigod? No matter, check out images below that point out what the filmmakers are speaking to:

Now, that’s a fun detail and speaks to just how meticulous and clever these animators are. Needless to say, It will have me looking at Dwayne Johnson’s song differently whenever I watch the film moving forward. And there are other excellent nods within the film that major Disney lovers are sure to appreciate.

The Moana 2 Directors Also Pointed Out A Big Moana 2 Easter Egg Deep Cut

Walt Disney Animation is known for sneaking in easter Eggs from other Disney movies, so I additionally asked the directors about that. Here’s the one David Derrick Jr. shared:

When I looked back at the movie, it took me a while to find the aforementioned easter egg. It happens around 1 hour and 15 minutes into the movie while Moana and her crew are in the storm. Derrick is referring to a fork or “dinglehopper” from The Little Mermaid, but this one is squinter. You can see it briefly as the items leave the canoe. I applaud anyone who was actually able to spot this during their first viewing.

Yes, There's A Zootopia 2 Easter Egg, But Disney+ Will Probably Skip It

Lastly, it’s tradition for the House of Mouse's animation studio to sneak in a cameo for an upcoming Disney movies in the one preceding it. In this case, that is the upcoming Zootopia 2, which its theaters this fall. When I hunted around, I found it at the very end of the credits for Moana 2 in the form of one of Moni’s drawings. Check it out:

Now, unless you are really up on Disney you’re not going to clock this, and when I was looking on Disney+, I noticed the app actually skipped the credits for me and started trying to play another title. But that snake is a new character named Gary, who's set to be voiced by Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Ke Huy Quan in Zootopia 2. All we know about Gary so far is he’ll be pursued by Nick and Judy in their latest case.

As a fan myself, I really hope that the knowledge of these fun Moana 2 details enriches your viewing experience on Disney+. What makes Walt Disney Animation so special is how much work its filmmakers put into every frame, and this entry in the Moana franchise is no exception.