Moana
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: November 23, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
81
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 44 Critic Reviews
Positive:
42
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenNov 21, 2016
Everything in the picture, from the characters’ clothes and hairstyles to the vessels they sail, bear the stamp of authenticity. But Moana’s greatest strength is the verve in which they move the action along and the sheer joyousness evident in every aspect of their storytelling. Read full review
100
Movie NationRoger MooreNov 17, 2016
A moving, hilarious and stunningly-animated adventure epic. Read full review
93
The VergeTasha RobinsonNov 27, 2016
All the beats proceed exactly as expected, but they hit with admirably precise timing, amid a strikingly beautiful landscape where every leaf is rendered with loving clarity. The humor, the wonder, and the awwww moments all hit home comfortably. This is such a perfect execution of the Disney formula, it feels like the movie the studio has been trying to make since Snow White. Read full review
91
The PlaylistWill AshtonNov 22, 2016
An inspired, spellbinding, wonderfully-realized tale and a dazzling, visually/morally beautiful treat for the eyes, ears, heart and soul that richly weaves an all-inclusive journey based in culture, heritage, friendship and self-importance. Read full review
91
Entertainment Weekly Devan CogganNov 7, 2016
Moana has a lot of the hallmarks of your classic Disney adventure — the goofy animal sidekicks, the feel-good messages — but its heroine is something new, a smart and fiery deviation from your standard European lovestruck princesses. Read full review
90
Village VoiceBilge EbiriNov 21, 2016
It’s funny, joyful, and sweet, and yet down below, running beneath everything, is a sad counter-narrative about how the world always throws obstacles in your way, and how you could just turn your back and retreat. Read full review
90
VarietyPeter DebrugeNov 7, 2016
As princess movies go, this one broadens the studio’s horizons, and as Moana herself sings in the film, “no one knows, how far it goes.” Read full review
90
The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenNov 7, 2016
Appealing equally to the eyes, ears, heart and funny bone, Moana represents contemporary Disney at its finest — a vibrantly rendered adventure that combines state-of-the-art CG animation with traditional storytelling and colorful characters, all enlivened by a terrific voice cast. Read full review
88
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Andrew ParkerNov 23, 2016
The obvious subtext of Moana is rich and pointedly relevant, but never overpowering. Read full review
88
Rolling StonePeter TraversNov 23, 2016
Sound plays as crucial a role as visuals in replicating an authentic culture to drive the storytelling. Read full review
88
St. Louis Post-DispatchJody MitoriNov 22, 2016
Directors Ron Clements and John Musker use the island setting to create an authentic, vibrant world. They also make earnest efforts to be culturally sensitive to Pacific Islanders’ heritage, incorporating Maui’s storytelling tattoos and his wayfaring skills Read full review
88
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireNov 22, 2016
Moana would have been enormously entertaining regardless of when it came out, but its arrival at this particular moment in history gives it an added sense of significance—as well as inspiration. Read full review
88
New York PostSara StewartNov 22, 2016
Moana stands head and shoulders above this year’s earlier aquatic animated hit, “Finding Dory”; it’s so transporting it will have your kids begging you to book the next flight to the islands. Read full review
88
Charlotte ObserverLawrence ToppmanNov 22, 2016
Cravalho shows spunk and a generically lovely voice, though she’s saddled with assembly-line anthems Disney has done better elsewhere. Johnson has exuberance, deft timing and a passable singing voice. Read full review
88
Philadelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniNov 21, 2016
Moana 's great heart and great humor actively subvert the violent, egocentric, macho mind-set that dominates so many popular stories. It can hardly be expected to change prevailing attitudes on its own. But it’s a start. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperNov 21, 2016
While the overall tone of Moana is uplifting, the story makes room for some pretty deep insights. Read full review
88
USA TodayBrian TruittNov 10, 2016
The "Hamilton" creator and the island personalities of Moana make beautiful music together in this charming seafaring epic. Read full review
83
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerNov 23, 2016
I rue the day when this becomes a Broadway musical. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubJesse HassengerNov 21, 2016
Occasionally, the movie’s combination of formula and tweaks makes it play like a one-blockbuster-fits-all reconciliation of a standard Disney checklist with a second list of corrective measures. For the most part, though, the movie feels more heartfelt than calculated. Read full review
80
Total FilmKate StablesDec 20, 2016
Coupled with the extraordinary lush visuals and fluid camerawork – moulding the ocean’s many moods and textures till it’s practically a character – Moana essays a rich, vivid feel. It might not be a whole new world, but it’s a fantastic voyage. Read full review
80
Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternNov 23, 2016
So too much of a good thing really isn’t too much, and some of the exceptionally good things are the songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. But how will they do the water on Broadway? Read full review
80
Time OutDave CalhounNov 23, 2016
Along with the film’s hippy-ish musings on the relationship between humans and the elements, it gives the film a moving, supernatural touch. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangNov 22, 2016
The moral of Moana is that playing it safe can have its limits. It’s hard not to agree, even when this lovely, reassuring hug of a movie doesn’t entirely heed its own advice. Read full review
80
SlateDan KoisNov 21, 2016
That a princess movie filled with brown faces and absent a love interest will be a slumber-party staple for decades may be its most important legacy. Read full review
80
We Got This CoveredMatt DonatoNov 21, 2016
Visually, Moana shines like a diamond at night. Read full review
80
New York Daily NewsJordon HoffmanNov 17, 2016
Yes, The Rock can carry a tune and his big song-and-dance number "You're Welcome" is a hoot. Read full review
80
EmpireNick de SemlyenNov 7, 2016
A crowd-pleasing oceanic musical with big tunes and beguiling characters, Moana is likely to thwack a big smile on your face. And did we mention the idiotic chicken? Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovNov 23, 2016
The good news is that Moana is a wonderfully animated – in every sense of the word – tale of youthful female empowerment that dazzles the eye with an oceanic kaleidoscope of bioluminescent color, catchy songs, and a perfectly suited vocal cast. Read full review
75
Tampa Bay TimesSteve PersallNov 27, 2016
We can now agree that Johnson is not only the Sexiest Man Alive but also our strongest, lifting Moana on his character's beefy shoulders, carrying it like other hits before. No movie left behind. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliNov 22, 2016
Moana is an entertaining and worthy way to close Disney’s 2016 animated roster. Read full review
75
Washington PostCaitlin MooreNov 22, 2016
While the main themes of Moana are identity and self-discovery — familiar territory, to be sure — the film manages to enliven such well-traveled latitudes with a breeze as fresh as the islands. Read full review
75
ConsequenceDominick Suzanne-MayerNov 22, 2016
Even allowing for its recognizable traits, Moana is as much a treat to watch as any recent Disney outing. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsNov 22, 2016
The film is bright, busy, enjoyable, progressive without being insufferable. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineJake ColeNov 22, 2016
Compared to your average Disney princesses, Moana is neither selfishly rebellious nor simplistically innocent. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubNov 22, 2016
A slow start keeps Moana from reaching “Frozen” or “Beauty and the Beast” levels of excellence. But the comic self-awareness, engaging songs and a fulfilling finish are enough to merit a strong recommendation. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTom RussoNov 22, 2016
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to visit this corner of the world, you’ll instantly recognize the blissful natural grandeur that Moana captures, as well as the Pacific’s intimidating vastness. Read full review
75
TheWrapAlonso DuraldeNov 7, 2016
Moana does what it does so well that you wish its makers had imbued it with some X factor that separates the classics from the merely beloved. Read full review
75
IndieWireEric KohnNov 7, 2016
Visually dazzling and loaded with charm, the movie is also blatant in its quest for cultural sensitivity. Read full review
70
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzNov 22, 2016
What it lacks is magic, or at least a decent amount of it. Read full review
70
The New York TimesA.O. ScottNov 22, 2016
There are some touching and amusing zigzags on the way to the film’s sweet and affirmative conclusion. Read full review
70
Screen DailyTim GriersonNov 7, 2016
The perfectly pleasurable Moana boasts vivid animation, a handful of catchy songs and a sweetly sunny disposition — all suitable compensation for a story which is not particularly inspired or original. Read full review
67
The Film StageDaniel SchindelNov 16, 2016
This is one of the better-directed CG films in the Disney canon. But next to all the solid noisy bits, Disney still demonstrates trouble in slowing down properly. Read full review
60
ScreenCrushBritt HayesNov 22, 2016
Despite a few fantastic deviations (including the lack of a love interest to hinder our hero’s development), Moana is still very much a paint-by-numbers narrative. Read full review
60
The GuardianSteve RoseNov 7, 2016
Its cultural setting is fresh; its storytelling, less so. It navigates the reefs but it doesn’t discover a whole new world. Read full review
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