Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has shared his perspective on the critical reception and box office performance of Disney's live-action "Moana," which recently debuted in theaters. Johnson, reprising his role as Maui from the 2016 animated film, acknowledged the varied responses to the remake.
"Our first two reviews came out. I'll never forget it… They were amazing. I was like, wow," Johnson recounted to People, referencing the initial positive feedback. He noted that, as "it sometimes happens," subsequent reviews took a different direction. The live-action "Moana" currently holds a 31% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have given it an 88% favorable rating. IGN's review awarded the film a 6/10.
"That's just the way it goes because we're in this business," Johnson stated, emphasizing the need to manage expectations beyond opening weekend and navigate the surrounding discourse. He added that his core sentiment is "If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem."
Despite the mixed critical reviews and a challenging box office run, Johnson highlighted the cultural significance of the film. "Moana's" opening weekend grossed $95 million globally, against a reported budget of $250 million. By its fourth weekend in theaters, the film had accumulated approximately $261 million. Johnson expressed that what resonated most deeply with him was the "culture really stood up" and that bringing Polynesian culture to the big screen for representation was the film's primary purpose.
His wife, Lauren Hashian, echoed these sentiments, stating, "The whole community, the whole culture really showed up and they understood." She added that themes of family, love, loss, and perseverance are universally relatable, particularly for parents viewing the film through their children's eyes.
While the live-action "Moana" has not met the commercial benchmarks of some other Disney remakes, the studio's pipeline for reimagined classics appears to be continuing. Production is underway for a live-action adaptation of "Tangled," with early set leaks offering glimpses of the cast.