The actor, who returns as Maui in the remake, has addressed the film’s mixed reception and the conversations it sparked at home with his wife, Lauren Hashian. Speaking to PEOPLE, Johnson recalled watching the early reviews arrive before seeing the response shift in a different direction.
Dwayne Johnson Reflects on the Reaction to ‘Moana’
The first critiques gave Johnson plenty of reason for optimism. “Our first two reviews came out,” he recalled, before remembering his reaction at the time: “They were amazing. I was like, wow.” The response did not stay there for long, however. “It went another way,” Johnson added, acknowledging how quickly the conversation surrounding a major theatrical release can change.
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The remake arrived in theaters on July 10 with Johnson reprising Maui and Catherine Laga’aia making her feature film debut as Moana. Directed by Thomas Kail, the movie is the first live-action entry in the franchise and was produced on a reported budget of $250 million.
Its theatrical performance has added another layer to the conversation. As of August 5, the picture had earned $265 million worldwide, including $118 million in the United States and Canada. Its $43 million domestic opening also placed it among the lower opening weekends for a Disney live-action adaptation.
The critical response has been similarly uneven. “Moana” currently holds a 32% critics’ approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave it an A- grade. Metacritic has it at 42 out of 100 from critics, putting the remake firmly in the mixed reception category. Johnson, for his part, kept his response measured. “If you love it, great. If you don’t, no problem,” he said.
For Johnson, the remake also carries a personal connection that goes beyond its performance. His Samoan heritage is part of the reason he has repeatedly spoken about the importance of bringing the story’s Polynesian setting and culture to a live-action audience.
That is ultimately where Johnson says his attention remains. “What really mattered,” he continued, was that “the culture really stood up.” He also pointed to the significance of seeing Polynesian representation on a major movie screen, particularly for younger viewers. “That’s us for the first time on a big screen. That’s us up there. How cool is that?”
