Live-Action ‘Moana’ Sets Disney+ Streaming Release Date

Disney has announced the Disney+ streaming release date for its live-action remake of Moana. The film will arrive on the streaming platform on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following its theatrical run and home entertainment release.

Starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, the film follows the young heroine on an adventurous journey alongside the demigod Maui to restore the heart of Te Fiti and protect her island community. Dwayne Johnson, who voiced Maui in the original animated film, reprises the role in the live-action adaptation and also serves as a producer.

After becoming available for digital purchase in early September and arriving on Blu-ray and DVD on October 6, the film is now preparing to make its streaming debut. Disney confirmed the date through a promotional video.

Disney Plans Beach Cleanup Ahead of Streaming Debut

Ahead of the film’s Disney+ premiere, Disney has partnered with environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay to organize a community beach cleanup at Santa Monica Beach on Saturday, October 17. The event will also feature a performance created by Tiana Nonosina Liufau, the film’s choreographer and associate producer.

The initiative adds an environmental and community-focused activity to the promotional campaign leading up to the film’s streaming release.

How the ‘Moana’ Franchise Has Performed

The original animated Moana, released in 2016, was a major box-office success, earning approximately $643.5 million worldwide. The film received widespread critical acclaim and holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, according to the source material. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the animated adventure also became Disney+’s most-streamed film, accumulating more than 1.5 billion hours viewed, as reported in the original article.

The film earned two Academy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations, including recognition for Best Animated Feature and the original song “How Far I’ll Go.” Lin-Manuel Miranda, who contributed substantially to the music and produced the soundtrack, later won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Disney initially developed Moana as a television series. However, after reviewing the animation team’s work, studio executives decided to develop the project into a feature-length film instead.

‘Moana 2’ Achieves Major Box-Office Success

The franchise continued with Moana 2, which debuted in November 2024. The sequel earned approximately $1 billion worldwide, surpassing the original film’s box-office total. However, its critical reception was more mixed, with a 61% Rotten Tomatoes score cited in the source material.

Although Moana 2 received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, it did not secure any Academy Award nominations, according to the original report.

Live-Action Remake Receives Mixed Audience and Critical Response

The live-action Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, arrived in theaters two years after the sequel’s release. Despite the popularity of the franchise, the remake generated approximately $323 million at the global box office, falling short of the animated films’ commercial performance. The original report also suggested that the film could cost Disney at least $100 million.

Critics responded negatively to the remake, which received a 33% Rotten Tomatoes score. Audience reactions were more favorable, with the film earning an 88% Popcornmeter score.

With its Disney+ debut scheduled for October 21, the live-action adaptation will have another opportunity to reach viewers who did not watch it in theaters. Disney is continuing to develop live-action adaptations of its animated properties, including Tangled and Lilo & Stitch 2.