Dwayne Johnson defends Moana live-action remake amid mixed reviews

Dwayne Johnson has addressed the mixed critical and commercial reception of Disney's live-action "Moana" remake. While the film has struggled at the box office, grossing approximately $264 million against a reported $250 million production budget, it has maintained a significant divide between critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 31% critic score but a much higher 88% audience score.

In an interview with People, Johnson remarked on the unpredictable nature of the industry, noting that the first two reviews were "amazing" before the reception shifted. He emphasized that his primary focus remains on the cultural significance of the project, particularly the representation of Polynesian culture. "What really mattered was that the culture really stood up," Johnson stated, noting the importance of seeing his heritage reflected on the big screen.

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro acknowledged the film's underperformance during an earnings call, grouping it with other projects that did not meet box office expectations but noted that such investments can still fuel other areas of the company's ecosystem.