Dwayne Johnson has addressed the mixed critical response to Disney’s live-action Moana, acknowledging that the film’s reception changed after its first reviews.
Johnson, who returns as Maui after voicing the character in the animated Moana films, said he and his wife Lauren Hashian discussed the criticism while reminding themselves that the movie’s impact could extend beyond its opening weekend.
In an interview with PEOPLE Johnson recalled that the first two reviews were extremely positive before the broader critical response became more divided.
Dwayne Johnson Focuses on Moana’s Cultural Impact
Johnson said the changing reviews were simply part of working in Hollywood.
“That’s just the way it goes because we’re in this business,”
he explained.
The actor also acknowledged that he and Hashian paid attention to the reaction surrounding the film, particularly during its opening period. However, Johnson said they tried to look beyond the immediate criticism and focus on what the movie represented.
“If you love it, great. If you don’t, no problem,”
Johnson said.
For the actor, the strongest response came from seeing Polynesian culture represented prominently on a major Hollywood production. Johnson, whose mother Ata is Samoan, said the response from the community ultimately mattered more to him than the critical reception.
“What really mattered,”
Johnson explained, was that
“the culture really stood up.”
He also highlighted the significance of his children seeing that representation on a major screen, saying they could look at the film and recognize themselves and their culture.
The live-action Moana, directed by Thomas Kail and starring Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, has earned more than $263 million worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget. While its 31% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects a divided critical response, its 88% audience score shows a substantially more positive reaction from moviegoers.
