Moana 2’s Rotten Tomatoes score is significantly lower than its predecessor.Moanawas a critical and commercial hitthat was well-received by critics and general audiences, along with grossing $643 million worldwide.Moana 2’s storywas originally going to be a Disney+ series before the decision was made to rework the animated sequel as a feature-length theatrical movie. Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their respective roles as Moana and Maui.
As perRotten Tomatoes,Moana 2has debuted with a critical score of 72%. This is a steep decline fromMoana’s 95% critical score and 89% audience score.Moana 2’s current score is based on 53 reviews and will likely fluctuate as more reviews are added. How the audience score fares against the original remains to be seen, although the sequel is expected to be a major box office success, and Disney’s best-performing Thanksgiving release sinceFrozen II.
What This Means For Moana 2
Reviews Are Mixed, But Likely Won’t Affect The Sequel’s Box Office Performance
The mixed reviews forMoana 2indicate that the sequel will not be as universally beloved as the first movie. ManyMoana 2reviewsdo find plenty to praise, including the titular hero’s characterization, her dynamic with Maui, and the visually stunning animation.One of the most common criticisms so far is in regard to the music, which was not written by Lin-Manuel Mirandathis time, and is a significant factor in the sequel’s inability to reach the same heights as the previous story. Retreading familiar narrative and thematic elements from the first movie is another repeated criticism as well.
Moana 2 Voice Cast Guide: Every New & Returning Character
What characters are returning for Moana 2, and what characters will be added to the highly-anticipated Disney sequel to the 2016 classic?
Moana’s music was one of the most important elements that defined the movie’s success and that continues to make it beloved nearly a decade later. While this could prevent the sequel from becoming as popular, mixed reviews are unlikely to have a negative effect onMoana 2’s box officeprospects.Moana’s beloved characters returning in a sequel with new music remains enough of a drawfor families and viewers of all ages, especially during Thanksgiving weekend.
Our Take On Moana 2’s Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Sequel Can Still Be A Commercial Hit
While Disney would like to seeMoana 2be both a critical and commercial hit, asMoanawas in 2016 and as the animatedInside Out 2was earlier in 2024, the sequel is still poised to achieve commercial success. General audiences will likely not take as much issue with retreading familiar elements and may even welcome the familiarity. It seems as though there will still beplenty to enjoy in the family-friendlyMoana 2that will draw in audiences across the globe.
Moana 2
Cast
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
