Moana Live-Action Trailer Faces Backlash on YouTube

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Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Moana (known as Vaiana in Portugal) is facing strong negative reactions from fans. The first full trailer for the film, released just months before its premiere, has received overwhelmingly negative feedback on YouTube. Data collected via browser extensions that restore YouTube’s dislike count show the official trailer received approximately 91,000 dislikes versus 38,000 likes within its first 24 hours. As of March 23, 2026, at 6:21 pm EST, the initial teaser released in late 2025 fares even worse, with 53,000 likes and 149,000 dislikes. Beyond the trailer’s reception, viewers have voiced concerns about the film’s very existence, pointing out that the original animated Moana premiered in 2016, and its sequel, Moana 2, was released the previous year. Many accuse Disney of creative exhaustion, questioning the need to remake a recent and visually vibrant film.

Disney’s Moana Remake Faces Backlash over CGI Maui Visuals and Criticized Color Palette

Viewers also criticized the visuals, finding the landscapes artificial and the color palette faded compared to the original. The heavy use of CGI on Dwayne Johnson as Maui has drawn particular criticism, with some comparing his appearance and movements to a “Saturday Night Live” sketch and generating numerous memes. They cite an unnatural gait and a computer-generated physique that seems to mimic the animated character’s proportions. Directed by Thomas Kail and co-led and produced by Dwayne Johnson, Moana is scheduled for release on July 10, 2026. It remains to be seen whether Disney can reverse this negative trend before the film’s premiere.

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