Moana
2026 · Directed by Thomas Kail
Original language: English
- family
- fantasy
- comedy
- adventure
The story
Prompted by a summons from the ocean, Moana departs her home island of Motunui for the first time and travels past its barrier reef. Accompanied by the demigod Maui, she undertakes a voyage aimed at recovering the well-being of her community.
What it’s like
Sunlit island and open-ocean vistas, with the warm, saturated feel a live-action adventure tends to bring to tropical settings, and a score built around songs and rhythmic percussion. Expect a family-friendly voyage tone: buoyant, comic and earnest, with a young woman's stubborn wish to be useful pulling the story forward. Her friendship with a brash, self-amused demigod gives the comedy its warmth, and the arc is about a young person stepping past the reef that has always bounded her world and learning what she owes her family and her people. The fantasy elements sit alongside sea travel and navigation, so the rhythm alternates between song-driven set pieces and quieter stretches on the water. Peril is adventure-scale, with monsters, storms and close calls rather than gore, and the sexual content is absent. It suits a family movie night, a Sunday afternoon with children, or anyone wanting a bright, uplifting fantasy with music and a sense of wonder. It is aimed at viewers who enjoy a remake of a beloved animated story and want a gentle, sincere voyage about belonging.
More films like Moana
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Moanaand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
