Published: November 18, 2025 07:53 am IST
While live-action remakes remain a major revenue engine for Disney, the recently teased Moana remake trailer drew a strong reaction from loyal fans.
Disney’s live-action remake machine is once again kicking into gear. Its recent live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch has been widely praised as an emotional and financial triumph, prompting the studio to reimagine the beloved animated classic Moana.
The Moana remake trailer, originally released in 2016, has received mixed reactions from fans.
Studios rely heavily on the nostalgia economy, relying on proven franchises to deliver box-office returns.
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Fans are raising questions about the Moana live-action teaser
The first look has caused a strong reaction due to its extremely CGI-heavy visuals. Kotaku described some scenes, such as the Maui cliff jump, as “artificial” as if someone put the original Moana into an AI and said, ‘Make it live-action.’
On Reddit, longtime Moana fans lamented that the animated film Moana 2 “came out too soon for the recent live-action redo.”
Many fans are speculating that the move is a money grab. One Reddit user said, “I’m glad they stopped Rapunzel. Moana isn’t even old enough to be considered a classic, yet they’re already remaking it?! Clearly a money grab. That’s the problem with Disney, they’ve become completely profit making now with these remakes and there’s no substance.”
However, fans are feeling good about the casting and are excited to see ‘The Rock’ as Maui. One Reddit user said, “Maybe this would be as cool as the upcoming Stitch look! Casting The Rock is a good start.”
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The animated Moana 2 was recently released in 2024, and fans are quite satisfied with the second part of the film. The film grossed $1.059 billion worldwide, which was a major success and overtook the first Moana. The film was also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
The recent success of the animated film has led critics to question why Disney is re-releasing Moana just a year after its original release.
