Overview
A spirited young girl embarks on a daring journey across the ocean to save her island.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- uplifting
- witty
- joyful
- family movie night
- weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a vibrant, heartfelt Disney adventure with strong animation, music, voice performances, and cultural mythology, despite some familiar storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Moana learns that her people were voyagers and uses that heritage to save her island.
The ocean repeatedly interacts with Moana and guides her journey across the Pacific.
The demigod Maui is presented as a boastful, humorous companion within a Polynesian-inspired creation myth.
The film foregrounds navigation, canoes, island communities, and Pacific seafaring traditions.
Films like Moana, and why
The Princess and the Frog
mythic coming of age adventure with oceanic worldbuilding, musical storytelling, and a young heroine discovering her identity
Frozen
family-friendly animated quest blending mythology, comedy, memorable songs, and a heroine challenging inherited expectations
Raya and the Last Dragon
vivid animated adventure centered on ancestral identity, spiritual mythology, and a determined young protagonist
Movie Details
- Directors
- John Musker, Ron Clements
- Release Date
- 2016-10-13
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (14054)
Cast
- Auliʻi Cravalho
- Dwayne Johnson
- Rachel House
- Temuera Morrison
- Jemaine Clement
- Nicole Scherzinger
- Alan Tudyk
- Louise Bush
- Oscar Kightley
- Troy Polamalu
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, fuboTV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Moana about?
- A spirited young navigator crosses a mythic Pacific to restore her island’s failing life and reclaim her people’s voyaging legacy.
- What is Moana like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Moana as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Moana violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Moana as mild.
- What did critics think of Moana?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a vibrant, heartfelt Disney adventure with strong animation, music, voice performances, and cultural mythology, despite some familiar storytelling.
- Which films are like Moana?
- Films with a similar feel include The Princess and the Frog, Frozen, and Raya and the Last Dragon.
- How long is Moana?
- Moana runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Moana?
- In United States, Moana streams on Disney Plus, fuboTV.
