Disney's live-action remake of Moana is drawing a wave of harsh reviews from critics, with multiple outlets describing the film in sharply negative terms ahead of its box office debut.
The BBC collected a range of critical responses under the headline describing the film as "dismal." The Guardian called it a "dull live-action remake" and said Dwayne Johnson's demigod character was on autopilot. Yahoo aggregated reviews that labeled the film "soulless" and "pointless."
Not every critic agreed. Variety took a notably different position, calling Moana the first Disney live-action remake that works 100%, placing it apart from the generally mixed-to-negative reception that has followed many of Disney's recent live-action adaptations.
The Hollywood Reporter framed the release in business terms, noting that Moana faces a box office test less than two years after the franchise's last major theatrical release. The timing and the divided critical reception set up an uncertain opening weekend for a film Disney has invested heavily in.
Disney has produced a long string of live-action remakes over the past decade, including versions of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The reception for those films has varied, but the pattern of mixed reviews paired with strong opening weekends has been common. Whether Moana follows that pattern or breaks it will become clearer in the coming days.
