Disney released the first full trailer for its live-action remake of “Moana” on Monday, and social media wasted no time rendering its verdict — mostly unfavorable, and often hilarious.
The film, directed by Thomas Kail and set to hit theaters July 10, 2026, stars Catherine Laga’aia in the titular role alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who reprises his voice-acting role as the demigod Maui — this time in the flesh, complete with prosthetics, tattoos and a voluminous curly wig. That wig, as it turns out, became the defining conversation of the trailer’s debut.
’The Rock With Curly Hair Is Sending Me’
The reaction across X (formerly Twitter) was swift and brutal, with Johnson’s Maui look drawing the most heat.
“This looks like The Rock in an SNL parody of a live-action Moana movie,” wrote Jacob Ethington (@JacobTalks4ever). “Only one degree of separation between this and The Rock as Bambi.”
@NoContextSpoof posted a clip of Johnson appearing in an actual “SNL” sketch that parodied live-action Disney remakes, noting the star “had more energy” in the parody than in the trailer itself.
Podcast host @JackKennedy added a pointed geographic jab: “Shooting even one second of a Polynesian-set movie in Atlanta should be a jailable offense” — a reference to the film’s production, which was partially filmed in Georgia.
Not everyone is complaining
Amid the pile-on, some voices pushed back, including one that offered a dose of real-world perspective.
“It’s funny seeing a bunch of adults clowning on the live-action Moana remake compared to my 11-year-old daughter absolutely loving it,” wrote @DonalTDeLay. “I wonder who the target audience is. That movie is going to make a ton of money.”
User @Ezmalay1z had straightforward praise for the film’s lead: “July 10 can’t come soon enough. Catherine Laga’aia as Moana looks absolutely perfect in the trailer.”
@SpainGreatAgain offered perhaps the most balanced take: “It looks huge, polished, and impossible to ignore, but people are still split between genuine excitement and remake fatigue. By July 10, this will either look like a genius move or another nostalgia cash grab with pretty visuals.”
YouTube is even harsher
If X was rough, YouTube was rougher. The trailer has accumulated a staggering 149,000 dislikes against 53,000 likes — a dislike ratio of roughly 74%, according to data tracked by third-party browser extensions. The reaction prompted one YouTube commenter to quip: “How brave of Disney. Leaving the comment section open.”
The YouTube backlash echoes a pattern already established when the teaser dropped in November 2025, which drew a 67% dislike ratio within its first 48 hours.
The bigger frustration: ’Creatively Bankrupt’
Beyond the wig, many viewers expressed a deeper frustration: the simple existence of this movie.
The original “Moana” was released in 2016 and earned $643 million worldwide. “Moana 2” grossed more than $1 billion globally just last year. The live-action remake will arrive in theaters less than 10 years after the original — the tightest turnaround between an animated Disney film and its live-action adaptation.
“The animated OG Moana film isn’t nearly old enough for a live-action remake,” wrote one YouTube commenter. Another added: “The original is not even 10 years old yet… This confirms they are creatively bankrupt.”
Fans also expressed frustration that Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in both animated films, was not cast in the lead role. Cravalho has said she stepped aside to make room for another Pacific Islander actress, and she serves as an executive producer on the new film. Still, several commenters weren’t satisfied: “Wild that Disney didn’t cast Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana… she IS Moana,” one YouTube user wrote.
Film blogger World of Reel was direct in its assessment: “Everything looks artificial, from the over-the-top CGI to the flat, lifeless backdrops — how does the animated version feel more real than this so-called live-action update?”
Director Thomas Kail addressed the wig criticism in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, acknowledging the technical challenge of Johnson’s hair. “We knew that it had to be something that could have real lift to it,” Kail said. “Because you’re doing this on the water, ’what does it look like wet?’ is a real conversation when you’re making Moana. That one weighs seven pounds more with all the water in it for all those hours a day.”
Star Catherine Laga’aia, for her part, emphasized the production’s commitment to cultural authenticity. “On the live-action Moana, everyone is making sure that every single aspect stays true,” she said in a behind-the-scenes featurette released alongside the trailer.
The bottom line
The jury may still be out on whether the film will succeed where “Snow White” failed last year, but at least one thing is certain: people are paying attention. Whether that translates to ticket sales when “Moana” opens July 10 against “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” remains to be seen.
As @BrettRedacted put it: “Two things can be true: the live-action Moana looks awful and incredibly low-rent, like cheap theme-park cosplay. Also, it will gross a billion dollars.”
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