Most critics greet Moana warmly, praising a Disney musical adventure whose familiar storytelling gains from its Polynesian cultural detail and independent heroine. The animation draws broad admiration, particularly the expressive sea and fluid water effects. Praise also clusters around the songs, Moana’s bickering partnership with Maui and the lively voice performances, with Auli’i Cravalho’s assured lead performance earning particular notice. Many reviews find emotional substance in the film’s treatment of leadership, family and identity.
The main reservation is how closely the journey follows Disney’s established formula, though most critics find enough wit and invention to forgive it. The spread is wide, but dissent is scarce. Sight and Sound admires the technical work yet finds the story disposable, making it the clearest negative outlier. HeyUGuys offers a more qualified response, praising the visuals and comedy but finding the songs unmemorable and the emotion thin, against the prevailing enthusiasm for both.
R
Radio Times
★★★★★ · Trevor Johnston
100
The review celebrates the film as a knockout entertainment that matches traditional Disney musical values with modern digital technology while respectfully honoring Polynesian culture. It praises the captivating heroine, gods and monsters, and storming set of tunes.
The critic finds the film enormously entertaining and timely, celebrating its story of a young woman forging her own identity as a leader rather than a stereotypical princess. She singles out the assured debut voice performance by Auli’i Cravalho and the vibrant songs co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for particular praise.
Praises the film's incorporation of culturally specific Polynesian art into its aesthetics and character designs, along with its emotionally driven take on Moana's evolution. Highlights the soundtrack as the finest collection of songs for a Disney film since Howard Ashman's run with the studio.
The critic calls it contemporary Disney at its finest, a vibrantly rendered adventure combining state-of-the-art CG animation with traditional storytelling and colorful characters enlivened by a terrific voice cast. Singles out the infectious songs co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for particular praise.
The critic calls it a worthy return to Disney Renaissance heights, a musical adventure that innovates with cultural specificity and a realistically proportioned heroine while updating the directors’ signature style for CG. He singles out the dynamic between Moana and the boastful Maui, plus the vivid water animation and songs, as standout elements.
The critic highlights the progressive story with a strong female lead equal to her male counterpart, mighty music by Lin-Manuel Miranda including earworm anthems, entertaining bickering dynamic between Moana and Maui, and visually inventive sequences with sentient seas and surreal set pieces.
The critic calls it a joyous animation of a Polynesian teenager’s quest that boasts eye-watering visuals, earworm songs and heart-swelling messages. The sea itself is singled out as the film’s greatest character for its fluid, helpful presence.
The critic commends the true hero's journey for Moana with exhilarating action, strong buddy chemistry between her and Maui, lush fluid visuals that make the ocean a character, and an eco-conscious story favouring adventure and empowerment.
The critic praises the film's empowering non-sylph-like heroine, witty screenplay with knowing humour, lively banter between leads, and standout supporting characters like the bodacious-tattooed Maui and the bling-loving crab Tamatoa, along with its lush visuals and eco-conscious story.
The review highlights Moana as a visually stunning and culturally rich adventure with a strong, independent heroine and memorable songs that make it one of Disney's finest. It notes some childish jokes but emphasizes the majestic journey and emotional depth.
The critic praises the gorgeous, enchanting CG animation and its function as a bright, reassuring family diversion amid turbulent times, noting its gentle ecological parable and Polynesian cultural showcase. He singles out the sparkling animation of water and the platonic, dynamic partnership between Moana and Maui as highlights.
The critic praises the film’s spectacle, visual inventiveness and nuclear-catchy songs while noting its warmth in the post-Frozen Disney era. The action sequence with the coconut pirates is highlighted as one of the year’s best.
The critic describes it as an irrepressibly fruity and fun frolic with magnificent animation and a sparse, elemental feel. Jemaine Clement’s gold-encrusted crab voice role is singled out as a showstopper.
The critic calls it a charming and big-hearted musical animation with a strong young female lead of color and catchy tunes that feels like progress for Disney. It singles out the emotional pull of Moana's relationship with her grandmother and its supernatural elements.
The perfectly pleasurable film boasts vivid animation, catchy songs and a sunny disposition as compensation for a not particularly original story, executed with family-friendly gusto and lively voice work. The songs stand out as emotional highlights with sonic richness.
The critic views the film as a buoyant, syncretic Disney adventure blending updated folklore, eco-spiritualism, and formula, anchored by infectious songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’i. He highlights the charming animal sidekick Heihei and the familiar yet effective father-daughter dynamic as elements that make it engaging for audiences.
The critic praises the film's technical achievements in animation, particularly the realistic water effects and cultural details, but finds the story formulaic and the film ultimately inessential and disposable despite its harmless entertainment value.
Moana meshes Disney’s traditional magic with rich culture for a refreshing, satisfying adventure. The stunning soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda and others is a particular highlight.
The critic calls Moana another magical, exciting Disney adventure packed with catchy songs, lovable characters and touching moments. They single out the rich visualization of Polynesian legends and culture along with the strong, purposeful protagonist for particular praise.
The critic praises the film as a refreshing, joyful update to the Disney princess formula that delivers cathartic escapism, highlighting the charming songs and strong voice performances as key strengths.
The critic is wowed by the music, story, characters and visual spectacle, calling the film very, very good overall. They highlight the collaboration with native Pacific Islanders and the portrayal of strength drawn equally from individuality, family and history.
Disney’s Moana is an inspired, spellbinding tribute to the human spirit and a dazzling, morally beautiful treat. It offers emotional nourishment and a compelling mix of visuals, storytelling, and toe-tapping music.
Moana is a smart, visually appealing update on the Disney princess formula that still ultimately conforms to type. It balances innovation with tradition in a conservative yet entertaining way.
The critic finds the film thoroughly entertaining if never completely groundbreaking, describing it as mostly business as usual for Disney but with the title character bolstering the studio’s roster of non-princess heroines. Dwayne Johnson is singled out for invigorating the South Seas saga.
The film abides by Disney tropes while respectfully depicting Polynesian culture. It excels visually and in comedy but lacks strong, memorable songs and emotional depth.
Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate
