Dwayne Johnson defends live-action 'Moana' amid mixed reviews, says "that's just the way it goes"
Washington, August 9
Dwayne Johnson has responded to the mixed reviews of Disney's live-action 'Moana', saying mixed critical reactions are simply part of the entertainment business while expressing pride in the film and its cultural representation.
The movie has earned USD 266 million globally since its July 10 premiere, according to Deadline.
Despite the response, Johnson said what mattered was that "the culture really stood up" in the Polynesian-inspired story.
"Our first two reviews came out. I'll never forget it... They were amazing. I was like, wow," Johnson told People magazine, recalling the film's early reviews. He said the reviews then "went another way, as sometimes happens."
"That's just the way it goes because we're in this business," Johnson added.
Johnson, who received a Golden Globe nomination, returned as the demigod Maui in the live-action adaptation after first voicing the character in Disney's animated Moana a decade ago. The live-action film is directed by Thomas Kail and stars Catherina Laga'aia as Moana.
Reflecting on the film's performance and reception, Johnson said the focus should extend beyond its opening weekend.
"The challenge was, okay, let's remember, though, what's going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let's remember what's happening right now and the noise that's happening right now," he said, adding, "If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem."
The film's box office performance has also drawn attention from Disney. CEO Josh D'Amaro recently addressed the lower-than-expected turnout in a letter to shareholders, saying that even when franchise films such as The Mandalorian and Grogu and the live-action Moana do not meet box office expectations, investments in those properties can benefit other parts of the company.
D'Amaro said Moana is "expected to be a strong title on Disney+," building on the success of the original animated film, which he described as one of the most streamed movies of all time.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Dwayne Johnson saying "that's just the way it goes" is classic industry maturity. But let's be real—Disney's obsession with remaking every animated classic is getting predictable. The Pacific Islander culture deserves better than a cash grab. That said, USD 266 million globally isn't bad at all. Our Indian audiences love this stuff—we just watched the dubbed version in theatres last week. 😅
I find it refreshing that Johnson is taking the mixed reviews in stride. Bollywood stars would be spiralling with PR damage control by now. He knows the culture stood up, and that matters more than Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, the original animated 'Moana' is a classic in our household—my kids still sing "How Far I'll Go" in the car. The live-action is fine, not great, but family-friendly.
Classic Johnson—always the professional. But the real story here is Disney's reliance on franchises like this to fuel Disney+. It's the same playbook they use everywhere, including India, where they push their library on Hotstar. The box office misses don't matter because streaming revenue covers it. Smart business, even if the art suffers.
"Mixed reviews" is Hollywood code for "it's a money machine anyway." Even if the critics don't like it, the kids will, and parents will pay. As an Indian, I can relate—we grew up on dubbed versions of everything from 'The Lion King' to 'Frozen.' The live-action 'Moana' is a nice nostalgic trip, though I wish they'd take more creative risks rather than just copying the original frame by frame.
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