Moana
2026 · United States · 115 min
- Director
- Thomas Kail
- Screenplay
- Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller
- Producer
- Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia
- Music
- Mark Mancina
- Cinematography
- Óscar Faura
- Editing
- Melanie Oliver
- Production company
- Walt Disney Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions
- Based on
- Moana
Cast
What it is about
Moana is a musical adventure set in Polynesia. Its heroine, the daughter of an island chief and raised to lead her people, has felt a pull toward the ocean since childhood. When a blight begins to devastate her community, she defies her father and sets out on a journey that brings her face to face with ancient legends and Maui, a shape-shifting demigod she must learn to sail with.
How it was made
The project began in 2019, when Walt Disney Pictures privately approached Dwayne Johnson about a live-action adaptation of the 2016 animated film. Johnson announced it publicly in April 2023, and Thomas Kail, making his feature narrative debut, was hired as director that May. Auliʻi Cravalho, the animated film's lead, served as executive producer. Catherine Laga'aia, in her film debut, was announced for the title role in June 2024. Principal photography took place between July and November 2024 in Atlanta and Hawaii. With a production budget of $250 million, the film is among the most expensive ever made. Johnson and Jemaine Clement reprised their roles as Maui and Tamatoa.
Reception and legacy
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures released the film in the United States on July 10, 2026. It grossed about $323 million worldwide, a modest result given its budget. Critics were mixed to negative, with no clear favorable consensus. No major awards are mentioned in the sources consulted. Its place in the franchise and in live-action film history remains to be assessed.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
Catherine Laga'aia's debut
Laga'aia plays Moana in her first film. She was announced for the role in June 2024, together with the main supporting cast.
Returning characters
Dwayne Johnson and Jemaine Clement reprise their roles as Maui and Tamatoa from the animated film in this live-action version.
A record-level budget
With a budget of 250 million dollars, the film is counted among the most expensive productions ever made.
More films by Thomas Kail
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