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Entertainment · Film · published 2026-08-09 · via Deadline

Johnson Dismisses Poor Reception for Live-Action Moana as Inevitable

Dwayne Johnson responded to the negative reviews of Disney's live-action Moana remake, which holds a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score. The actor expressed pride in the film despite its poor box office performance, calling the criticism "just the way it goes" in the entertainment industry.

Expanded Detail

The live-action adaptation currently holds a 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has struggled at the box office. Johnson, a Golden Globe nominee, acknowledged that while the initial critical responses were highly positive, subsequent reviews took a different turn.

He emphasized that the film's cultural resonance within the Polynesian-inspired narrative was the key takeaway for him, dismissing the negative reception as a standard part of the industry's cycle.

Context

This dismissal of critical consensus could influence how studios evaluate future live-action remakes, potentially prioritizing cultural community support over traditional review scores. Audiences may become more polarized in their viewing choices, with cultural authenticity becoming a stronger metric for success than aggregator ratings. This stance might also affect marketing strategies, as creators could lean into representation narratives to buffer against negative press.

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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