Moana 2

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

So far Moana 2 is off to a fresh start on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic with a score of 70% with 46 reviews so far and 64% on MC with 13 reviews so far.

Good start and maybe it will convince the families their ticket will be worth it.

[UmbrellaFish]

D23ExpoVisitor25, I am curious— can you tell us how much Maui is in it? When it was a TV show, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Maui had been a guest star for one episode so they wouldn’t have had to pay Dwayne Johnson as much. Is Maui in this movie as much as the first?

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

D23ExpoVisitor25, I am curious— can you tell us how much Maui is in it? When it was a TV show, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Maui had been a guest star for one episode so they wouldn’t have had to pay Dwayne Johnson as much. Is Maui in this movie as much as the first?

He’s in it a good amount.

[Thumper_93]

D23ExpoVisitor25, I am curious— can you tell us how much Maui is in it? When it was a TV show, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Maui had been a guest star for one episode so they wouldn’t have had to pay Dwayne Johnson as much. Is Maui in this movie as much as the first?

He’s in it a good amount.

Bad for me. I don't like him too much.

[robster16]

I’ve come across two reviews, both negative, saying it’s pointless and that Disney has apparently lost it’s way. I’m not a huge fan of the original to begin with so I’m skipping this one, at least until it’s digital release… oh how I long back for the golden renaissance days of my youth…

[bulgaross]

I quite enjoyed it. The story is solid, songs were all memorable and catchy, there were plenty of gags and jokes, the animation and character design were all great.

My biggest issue was the change of aspect ratio compared to the original. So distracting and inconsistent.

[Sotiris]

NFL promo:
https://x.com/Steelersdepot/status/1861251362736218242

[DisneyFan09]

Luke`s review is up! And he`s actually praising the movie and giving it a good review.
https://dvdizzy.com/moana2/#review.

He`s also defending Wish and stating how he`s struggling to understand it flopped.

[blackcauldron85]

My only issue with the film was: You kind of have to suspend disbelief at the ending: If people from other islands were coming to the cursed island, if Moana and Maui weren't already ahead and defeated the curse...um, these people would have died, or I'm missing something? And biggest coincidence ever that that many people from other islands were all headed there at the same exact time...?

I think there was a lot of heart. And I laughed a lot. The new crew members are great.

I think "Beyond" isn't too vague in the scope of what Moana is about to embark on, what she's leaving behind to go on this voyage.

It didn't feel *too* disjointed and episodic.

Stay for the mid credits scene.

The snake from Zootopia 2 was in the end credits.

[Farerb]

Stay for the mid credits scene.

Is there only a mid credits scene or is there an after credits as well?

[blackcauldron85]

Stay for the mid credits scene.

Is there only a mid credits scene or is there an after credits as well?

Just the mid credits scene.

[Farerb]

Thank you

[PatchofBlue]

I'll probably elaborate later on, but my initial read was not impressive.

Most of my issues stemmed from the fact that Moana's mission here feels so empty. I didn't really feel like Moana as a character was really being tested. There are some physical obstacles to overcome, sure, there always is, but I don't really know what Moana was trying to prove with this mission. All the insights and revelations she needed to advance felt handed to her by other characters, and I honestly think they could have landed on ANY vaguely philosophical life lesson and it would have made no difference.

The songs weren't actively cringeworthy like in WISH, but I've already forgotten the melodies for like half of them. I will say though that Auli'i's voice has really grown and I am ever grateful that they had the decency to write to that.

I'd say that now I just have to hunker down until Zootopia 2, but something tells me I'll be left wanting until at least their next original piece.

[Farerb]

Why did Disney never consider bringing back Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson for this or for Wish? I thought their work on Olaf's Frozen Adventure was decent.

[UmbrellaFish]

My theory for why Barlow and Bear were given the Moana assignment is that it was intended as an industry “F U” to Netflix. Who, of course, had sued B+B for their Bridgerton Unofficial Musical. That’s the kind of petty decision making I expect in the streaming wars.

I don’t mean to discredit their talent especially as I haven’t listened to the soundtrack, but ever since they were announced, that’s been my suspicion for why they got the edge over other B-list songwriting teams who may have been considered.

If I had been in Bob Iger’s shoes, I’d have chucked out what was already written and speed-dialed LMM as soon as I made the decision to bring this to theaters. But that would have cost more money (and honestly, probably a whole retooling of the script), and Moana 2 is clearly an example of Disney trying to make the most money while spending the least.

WOM doesn’t seem bad enough to affect the BO, so this will still do gangbusters. But I think it’s destined to be forever remembered as the weak link in the inevitable Moana trilogy.

[Farerb]

Netflix should have tried to capitalize on their musical and try to get them to make an official musical special or something.

I don't think Lin Manuel Miranda would have accepted to work on a movie that was going to be released in less than a year. Maybe they'll get him back for the third movie if and when it happens, though it seems to me at least that they don't really care about music anymore. I also guess that LMM and the Lopezes got too expensive for them and that's probably why they only get the Lopezes to do Frozen films but nothing else (like Wish). It wouldn't surprise me to learn that it's also the reason why they don't bring Menken back for a new project (or Stephen Schwartz or Tim Rice).

[Warm Regards]

Netflix should have tried to capitalize on their musical and try to get them to make an official musical special or something.

As I understand, Barlow and Bear at first were legally were allowed to push a Bridgerton musical on social media online under fair use/parody laws (i.e., it was free to access online and not being charged).

B&B then wanted to launch the Bridgerton musical in a real-life theater with real-life ticket sales. When Netflix found out, they were willing to partner and negotiate a license with Barlow and Bear so the Bridgerton musical could be performed. Barlow and Bear, for some reason, refused the Netflix partnership and did the live show/sold merchandise against Netflix's wishes. And that's when the lawsuit came about.

(Source and lawsuit document: https://x.com/NoContxtBR/status/1553244 ... nuTjQ&mx=2
)

The lawsuit was since dropped but I believe as a consequence the Bridgerton musical can never be performed live again.

I guess Disney thought having young women song writers with social media clout would be beneficial for Moana.

[UmbrellaFish]

I don't think Lin Manuel Miranda would have accepted to work on a movie that was going to be released in less than a year.

Yes, I think that’s true. I think the best case scenario for fans would have been for Disney to have moved forward with Moana the TV series as intended, Barlow and Bear and all. And to have started developing a sequel film, unrelated to the TV series (except, perhaps, in continuity). But after Wish last year, they needed a win, so here we are.

[Sotiris]

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Shatters Records With $13.8M in Previews, Biggest Ever for Walt Disney Animation
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236072560/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Serves Up Huge $57.5M Wednesday, Heads for Historic $175M-Plus Launch
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236073409/

Box Office Magic: ‘Moana 2’ Tops Biggest Thanksgiving Ever, Eyes Record $215M-$220M Bow
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236074018/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Tops Best Thanksgiving Ever, Opens to Record $225M in U.S. and $389M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236074018/

‘Moana 2’ Achieves Demigod Status: All the Box Office Records Broken
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236074175/

Big Box-Office Weekend for ‘Moana 2’ Could Also Spill Into Oscars
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236074333/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Sails to Record $52M Second Weekend, Hits $600M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236080503/

What a Difference a Wickedly Good Week Can Make at the Box Office. But Can the Feast Last?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236079078/

Box Office: ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Bombs With $11M Opening, ‘Moana 2’ Crosses $700M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie ... 236087005/

‘Moana 2’ Earns Disney Animation Record $13.8 Million From Box Office Previews
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-tuesday ... ce-record/

‘Moana 2’ Smashes Animation Box Office Records With $57.5 Million Opening Day
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-wednesd ... ce-record/

‘Moana 2’ Leads Box Office to Biggest Black Friday of All Time With $108 Million
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-biggest ... ce-record/

‘Moana 2’ Shatters Thanksgiving Box Office Record With $221 Million Extended Opening
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-shatter ... d-opening/

‘Moana 2’ Sets Post-Thanksgiving Weekend Record With $50 Million
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-sets-po ... 0-million/

‘Moana 2’ Gets December Box Office Started Strong With $52 Million 2nd Weekend
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-post-th ... ox-office/

‘Moana 2’ Tops Box Office Again as ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Crashes to $12 Million Opening
https://www.thewrap.com/kraven-moana-box-office/

‘Moana 2’ Passes $1 Billion at Global Box Office
https://www.thewrap.com/moana-2-box-office-billion/

Thanksgiving Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Aims to Eclipse ‘Frozen 2’ Holiday Record With Massive $135 Million Debut
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236223590/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Sets Disney Animation Record With $13.8 Million in Tuesday Previews
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236224112/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Easily Toppling Thanksgiving Week Records After Scoring Massive $57.5 Million Opening Day
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/box- ... 236225866/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Earns Gigantic $28 Million on Thanksgiving Day, Shattering Holiday Records
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/than ... 236230809/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Keeps Making Waves With Biggest Black Friday Ever
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236231363/

Thanksgiving Box Office Record: ‘Moana 2’ Scores Dazzling $225 Million Debut
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236231692/

‘Moana 2’ Sails to $389 Million, Second-Biggest Global Debut of 2024 Behind ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236231732/

China Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Opens in Second Place as ‘Her Story’ Retains Top Spot
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236232054/

China Box Office: ‘Her Story’ Stays on Top as ‘Moana 2’ Drops to Third Place
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236242946/

‘Moana 2,’ ‘The Firefighters’ Lead Korea Box Office Recovery
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236243095/

‘The Firefighters,’ ‘Moana 2,’ ‘Wicked’ Lead Korea Box Office
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236250189/

‘Moana 2’ Sails to U.K., Ireland Box Office Crown
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236233313/

‘Moana 2,’ ‘Wicked’ Lead U.K., Ireland Box Office, ‘Pushpa 2’ Makes Strong Debut
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236244275/

‘Moana 2’ Paddles to U.K., Ireland Box Office Crown as ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Looms
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-offic ... 236251485/

'Moana 2' Opening Signals Brutal Year-End Battle Ahead With 'Mufasa'
https://variety.com/vip/moana-2-thanksg ... 236232930/

Disney Got Its Groove Back With ‘Moana 2,’ but Troubled ‘Snow White’ Could Halt the Momentum
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/disn ... 236234842/

‘Moana 2’ Hits $600 Million at Global Box Office
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/moan ... 236242668/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Still Making a Splash on Top as A24’s ‘Y2K’ Opens in Eighth Place
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/moan ... 236242078/

Box Office: ‘Moana 2’ Scores $52 Million in Second Weekend, A24’s ‘Y2K’ Craters With $2 Million Debut
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/box- ... 236242608/

'Moana' Was Key to Disney's Comeback Year from the Beginning
https://variety.com/vip/moana-key-to-di ... 236246307/

‘Moana 2,’ Once Destined for Streaming, Crosses $1 Billion at Global Box Office
https://variety.com/2025/film/box-offic ... 236272527/

[D23ExpoVisitor25]

Moana 2 has officially received an A- on CinemaScore, same CS as Ralph Breaks The Internet and Frozen II: https://www.reddit.com/r/boxoffice/s/g4tDFipH5H.