The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Moana,” featuring a star-studded cast including
Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga’aia,
and Frankie Adams, has faced an unexpectedly rocky reception since its release. Beyond its underwhelming
box office performance, the film has been met with considerable criticism and ignited fervent online debates
regarding significant omissions from the beloved original animated version. Almost a month post-release,
leading star Dwayne Johnson has
publicly addressed the mixed reviews, acknowledging that such occurrences are an inherent part of the
industry.

Dwayne Johnson Opens Up About the ‘Moana’ Backlash and Mixed Reviews

In a recent interview, the renowned action hero delved into the diverse reactions his latest film, “Moana,”
has garnered. In the live-action rendition, Johnson reprised his iconic role as Maui, the charismatic
demigod of the wind and sea, a character he memorably voiced in the animated predecessor. Discussing the
online criticism with PEOPLE, Johnson recounted, “Our first two reviews came out. I’ll never forget it…
They were amazing. I was like, wow.” He then light-heartedly added that subsequently, “it went another way,
as sometimes happens.”

Reflecting on the nature of the entertainment business, Johnson stated, “That’s just the way it goes because
we’re in this business.” He revealed that these discussions about the film’s reception were frequent at home
with his wife, Lauren Hashian. “We had a lot of these conversations at home, at the kitchen island late at
night when the babies are asleep,” he shared. Johnson emphasized his understanding of the various
perspectives, reiterating that the primary motivation behind making the film was to bring Polynesian culture
to the forefront.

He proudly commented on the cultural impact, stating, “The culture really stood up,” and adding, “because of
me and our kids who can now look at the big screen and go, ‘That’s us for the first time on a big screen.
That’s us up there. How cool is that?’” This sentiment underscores Johnson’s deep personal connection to
the project and its significance as a platform for cultural representation.

Lauren Hashian Also Weighs In on the ‘Moana’ Release

Lauren Hashian, Johnson’s wife and a producer on the “Moana” live-action film, also shared her insights
during the interview. She expressed full agreement with Johnson’s perspective on the film’s reception and
box office performance. Hashian highlighted the broader community’s embrace of the film, stating, “The
whole community, the whole culture, really showed up, and they understood.”

She further elaborated on the universal themes within “Moana,” suggesting their appeal extends beyond the
Polynesian community. “Even if you’re not Polynesian, I think we can understand family and love and loss and
perseverance—especially as a mom,” Hashian remarked. She concluded by emphasizing the magical experience of
watching the film through her children’s eyes, reinforcing the emotional resonance and importance of such
stories for younger audiences.