# Box Office: ‘Moana’ Could Be Headed for Choppy Waters

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-08 16:29 UTC · Category: Entertainment · Sources: 13 · Current Velocity: 13.52

## Executive Summary
Disney's live-action remake of 'Moana' faces critical backlash and box office uncertainty following its Los Angeles premiere.

## Intelligence Brief
The live-action adaptation of 'Moana' has premiered in Los Angeles. However, early reception is poor, with the film receiving what Forbes describes as a "Disney disaster" of a Rotten Tomatoes critic review score.


Coverage from The Guardian and BBC focuses on the quality of the production, with The Guardian describing the film as a "dull live-action remake" and featuring Dwayne Johnson's character on "autopilot." Variety reports that these factors may lead to difficulties at the box office. Future developments depend on how these critical reviews translate to ticket sales and whether the film can overcome the negative momentum reported by entertainment outlets.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### How has the critical reception been for the live-action Moana?
The reception has been negative, with Forbes calling the Rotten Tomatoes critic score a "Disney disaster" and The Guardian labeling the remake as "dull."

### Where did the film premiere?
The movie premiered in Los Angeles, according to the New York Daily News.

### Who is mentioned in the reviews of the film?
Dwayne Johnson is mentioned in coverage from The Guardian.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Box Office, Moana, Dwayne, Could Be Headed for Choppy Waters, Rotten Tomatoes Critic Review Score Is A Disney Disaster

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Austin Chronicle | Moana Review: The Same Wave Rolls Back Around | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxOZVREYmotQUxiemREcTdkQkFMajlwM0pxa3kydjNKVWNveU1ZT1ByVjlBZ3J1Q1NqUHB0YlBaSUEyTVJna3JFbXpjQUVzbGJPTGdmRXNkc215UVhkcWRXRHhGeExZaEtsU1RGUV9EOGJXcTdDX201LWxoWkFuY0FHWmRYemhEVkJkVEVhXw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Moana Scores 2nd-Worst Rotten Tomatoes Score for Disney Live-Action Remakes | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxOdkk3SUtrMEdYajh6OU1KelBJdzNDNmJ0M2xVRWpWcVJ5MXdSRU1KSDJVcHJjRy03cDdpRjFsYTE3cjNJMFUwNFdvOVdHeHdSTkh6Ry1BWjlRMXVodkdWbDVKS01OR0lmaExRRmptYXRsbk1mTkxTWUd6SGZ5aEpoSHhsbjRPa0xfMnk1VEZuOWs5ekE2ekU5dUVRYUw?oc=5) |
| The Boston Globe | ‘Moana’ shows how far Disney will go for your nostalgia | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxNdThuWDdWWE52Z3BERUFKSHVQRGhDMzlBTWFEcXBuWjNFeDQtTDB5YUNVTkpYZG1abmczS0lrWFV3VEFFTmpFLWpMLXNMZFJsN203QjAxWS1LWlNOMENsNVJZSldIdW5BX01kdDNWX0dlZDNRNFdWdzFrVDBUODRFS3ZJWGhCUjlkTzVEU2JNQlNqeUU?oc=5) |
| Rotten Tomatoes | Moana First Reviews: Unnecessary and Faithful to a Fault, but It Has Its Charms | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiekFVX3lxTFBLMVQ3T3VWaTlIMmNUVUtieE1WR0NsQ1k5R21GMjZTQ2pENUdfLVZSUHRJNVZFR3l3M2ZPSmp2REhOM2NKLVktSks3cFhEQVo5Q2pjN2I1UGszT25wS1lFUmNDbmoyS3Q4eFdZWnBSV29jV2VPTFBSOWFn?oc=5) |
| Gizmodo | ‘Moana’ Is an Exercise in How Not to Remake an Animated Classic | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQR3RZaDZDMlFqbzZDUHhjNGJ0NVlPZDVwWENORzllTEtBMDFzcTZVWG8tWUN3YlN0V0RlU3BsYnJMOGtBLTdlR29aQUJlT0Z0b2paVkh0YmJINHFYNTFxQV94TXItdzFYWV9VbVVZcGZ1dVE2M3BNOGJmV1o1TW4yU09DeF81bF9rclJv?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Moana's Positive Reviews All Seem To Agree On One Thing | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNY1l1WnM5R2RTRHdtSDJwRlR1b1duUFBXMExRYlAwcFR1YzhnOHpvLWFYa3MtWXZBdHlDQVdCY0IzcnVXSTV3ZDg2NTg3UVpaTVRqYkFZajdheXVBSUlGTUl2WFlVNXpBYXdTaGp1Rmk3QmgtdmZiUy05S0ZabzV4VW93T3Vvb25aZTdNcGRnRG1tcWNJbjFn?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Dwayne Johnson on Why Live-Action ‘Moana’ Isn’t “Too Soon” and the Viral Reaction to His Onscreen Wig: “I Get It, I’m a Pretty Well-Known Bald Actor” | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPRHpDSy16dUFLY082bVRwbmg1VEVHZlZBdkJLU083b0NZVkhrUWdZMDc3bnpSNDBhYkhadFMtREhZT1ZnemZGQkQybzB3NG8xcDJ0RzFSZE91T1NBOWp4R2YtdEV3N2Z0a2lxWDBjYk1YTDZCTllGNko0cDRjc0VuTmxIbS1Rdjc1ZjRCeGFfRFFNSl9oQkpGajFTcXhFQQ?oc=5) |
| ABC7 Los Angeles | Acclaimed Broadway director making feature film debut with Disney's 'Moana' | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxQV3dNV3RZOGRORDlic0hYc0lBcWw2X3A3YjROMmlpOXA1RjQtSmRGWm9nMU5fZGhvTHVNdWhpb0xmWkVMUG1pdGd2ZDgteFZyZnNZbXVLaGJMUG5VS2tpQ3JXVHNveGtUYVNoR29DRG1KTkpyalhVTW10SW1oOGlRUWtvTV9kdkpuVjZOZE9NS0V6VFNpRjFRNFBCSFd4MWJM0gGmAUFVX3lxTE42NGN5V0tXU1lRTXFSS0NsTGtCTHc2Y3YweWprUjhuNEZzenRyWTJqallzX2M3YTBwR0tWOUFTV3NZVW5COV9oSFgwWllzZTBFQlBxdFQyZFltMkpIR21aSldnYjlmNFl1eHgtZnh5TlZYc1NOOXMwR1QzR3V1dWRjek83cEFETWZ0YlBtLU1HWGpsaWZjUlBoSnc1NHhJb3h4ZDEtdVE?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Dwayne Johnson on Why Live-Action Moana Isn't Too Soon, His Viral Wig | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxNWEwxS2xTZG1rajFDUEZjb2VIUnVndlR3eGpNVlU5eFFlMHVIbjNFaHNYbU5BbXBMaU5JcUVNMzF4T3JWaWlOV1JWVUdzeVRnUnlIZGV2azlNV3UtMFVKeWxyY19wb1NVeVFUNGtiaFQtbUhDV3hHNV9yMEp2SklVZUlXZE02aFZkdXZ2X0dvYUdxSlpGcmxsZGZQSGxOSHlYeGN0WGhpeUlLSXFNSnMyRTFadGYxUQ?oc=5) |
| San Francisco Chronicle | Why Disney’s live-action ‘Moana’ feels weirdly soulless | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxQZTNVY1c3Vmd6VWlzVWxRcXpzajFob3M4Q1d3LWlFUVhiS1dTMHhZNmdzWFpBcEJpaTNSLW9yY2ZFOURHLUplWDQyR05lTkhScWNlcWJSWmJ1N193SEhvZmVtTG9mWWtMRTFZLUFDemN1dUwyN1h0UnNfOGlxYVgxTE9Sa3R3dGtlaFhqRlZwMTJ2NE9jb2h1b3N4SjJCdTNkTWZTdDFLaw?oc=5) |
| Forbes | The ‘Moana’ Rotten Tomatoes Critic Review Score Is A Disney Disaster | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxNM2VkUkRXaVJnWFNtWmVpVWZieXYxSWl4TDBhVWttVHVvbEM3QkExWUY1dW5OY2lEZGZEWXNfaUR0Tlk0Mmd2VUlqMGp5bmJteEh4ZGo2M3dUeElGSXJ2QU5MMnIwWU81NXpaLWhUZWpUVUlEcldVcVdoTlQ5T2FhbEZFalFCMDYxU0dmZThPanhKSG5UTTBZZU5rZ0JOUFhuOUp2NjNucWxnRU1ueWctUXBWdXpKWkNx?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Moana review – Dwayne Johnson’s demigod on autopilot in dull live-action remake | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQZGZNM2NhajdDLUFsOTBQZGNOaGQwVWhQM0xwTjdSdmN5ZmY5Umx6R0lhVzJiTGlRajlRMjVPNlVjYVZrOU9BNmI5NXJrSkhfbHkzQVI4UFZOdk1IeXc2Tl9sV2NGNl95ZXpTYjM1elRYOFpLQkQ2WGNXemhxSGxFZG9GZEM1V21wT1FFblI0Y3dPVU9oa3EzTUFUbWdlazR3bHJOcjFIUk1MVjg?oc=5) |
| New York Daily News | ‘Moana’ movie premiere in L.A. | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOaHBzMVY2VlVLY2w2M0E5SVpNamNhMmFYN2xCQURQYkVhLXZvX0trQ2VnVUUxY0tWWE12dTc4OWdOUG83b2FQNktBQmhYb3ZyUUVrUzNfOWNIcVI4QWIxNUt3MEVqQTBDX1VDMS1pUWdWTjFiLUJpeWpUSjFldnJCc2tZYw?oc=5) |
| BBC | What went wrong with the live-action Moana | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxOb3MwWldzMFRtR216by1oZ0JOZjAxVHNGTEdoc3BjSWlrbWJpZkFKMjBKU01BWUhaQ2pTa0NIZWJuekNNR3Vsbng0ZUNPQmJHcXNHaWk3d2pRQ05vSXdKX19FZHlKcnpJX3ZxNEFNc1RqbkV0dzZ6WlJlb1hvYWFkRVoxOG5wcFQ2aXhZeWZscms?oc=5) |
| Variety | Box Office: ‘Moana’ Could Be Headed for Choppy Waters | 2026-07-08 15:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPSjR4bzZtT0dFWFlxdlhnS09SSW1LaldKeS1sVU5jU2tLUGRKd1hCNHlEdmdVSnFzdFg5empwWkhBMFhBNUpSd3VVR05DZEJUNXlJVUxtczJOU2tRMUxGcmdLQlE4dWpyVnl3Yk9mNVVDZHZHcEpOamptZ0pLY2NDV2VYQzFVdHZ4WmdtckQzak9wRHoyMDJLbnFkOXdMYlJuUUxR?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-08/box-office-moana-could-be-headed-for-choppy-waters*
*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*