The Rock defends Moana after new film flopped
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has defended his latest film, the live-action Moana remake, after it was met with an influx of negative criticism and poor box office numbers.
While many would take the reviews personally, Johnson simply brushed off the critics’ distaste for the film, saying, “It’s just the way it goes”.
Johnson has spoken out in defence of the live-action Moana remake, in which he reprised his role as Maui. Disney
In an interview with People, Johnson recalled the first two reviews of the movie being “amazing” before things then suddenly took a turn for the worse.
“That’s just the way it goes because we’re in this business,” he told the publication.
“[My wife and I] had a lot of these conversations at home, at the kitchen island late at night when the babies are asleep.
“The challenge was, ‘OK, let’s remember, though, what’s going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let’s remember what’s happening right now and the noise that’s happening right now.’”
Read more
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson bit his tongue for three years, now he’s ready to ‘tell the world’
While he noted that it’s “great” that some people love the film, he added that it’s “no problem” that others didn’t enjoy it.
Ahead of the film’s release, many fans were concerned about the decision to turn Moana into a live-action film, with worries that the new edition would tarnish the original movie’s legacy.
Speaking with nine.com.au back in June, Johnson said that he understood where the concerns were coming from.
“You’re going to get that, the internet is going to internet. I’m not dismissing that because I get it, especially when something is beloved,” he said.
Johnson explained that he had seen the criticisms of the decision and had wanted to address them online, but instead had chosen not to.
Johnson addressed fans concerns for the first time in an interview with nine.com.au. Disney/Nine
“I didn’t ever want to say this because I didn’t want to engage in that way, but I wanted to tell people so badly, ‘As passionate as you are about Moana, so am I,’” he said.
“I love this. It’s my family, it’s my culture.”
The live-action remake of Moana was released on July 8, 2026. It is currently sitting at 31 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the original film’s 96 per cent.
Alongside Johnson, the live-action film stars up-and-coming Australian actress, Catherine Laga’aia.
