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Is Moana 2 worth watching?
If you want another ocean-spanning adventure with Moana, appealing animation, and a warm connection to family and community, Edwards’s review makes a broadly positive case for watching. The qualification is substantial for a musical: she considers the songs the sequel’s biggest weakness beside the original. Her assessment is a critic’s judgment, not a consensus measurement.
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The sequel gives Moana a new mission after she receives a vision of Motunui’s future. She sets out for Motufetu, an island tied to reconnecting ocean peoples and pathways, with a new crew. Maui’s story takes a separate turn involving Matangi. The result, as Edwards describes it, has the color and scale of an adventure while placing greater emphasis on Moana’s understanding of what is at stake and her bond with family.
Why the songs are the main drawback
Edwards calls the songs “totally OK” but “certainly nothing special compared to Moana’s greatest hits.” She points to “Beyond,” “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?,” “What Could Be Better Than This?,” and “Get Lost” as numbers that do not reach the earlier film’s songwriting heights. She does note that staging and animation help elevate some of them, so the criticism is about their musical impact rather than a lack of visual energy.
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- Walt Disney Animation Studios? animated musical reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After hearing from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey into long-lost waters for an adventure. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes in this film may affect photosensitive viewers.
One notable change is the songwriting team. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who worked on the original film, did not return as a songwriter for the sequel. Disney’s feature credits Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, known professionally as Barlow & Bear, with writing original music for Moana 2. Disney quoted Barlow saying, “It’s a crazy honor,” adding that she had been a high school student when Moana reached theaters in 2016. That background explains a change in the creative lineup; it does not by itself explain or prove the review’s assessment of the songs.
How the sequel handles its villain
Edwards also finds Nalo underdeveloped. In her view, the climax delivers spectacle without giving him the expressive presence that Te Kā brought to the original film. That makes the antagonist a weaker part of the sequel’s dramatic design, even as the journey, crew, and visual world provide much of its appeal.
Rank #2
- Walt Disney Animation Studios? animated musical reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After hearing from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey into long-lost waters for an adventure. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes in this film may affect photosensitive viewers.
This is the review’s spoiler-bearing plot context: Moana’s voyage centers on Motufetu and restoring connections among ocean peoples, while Maui confronts a separate predicament involving Matangi. The discussion of the climax and Nalo’s role reveals more than a premise-level description.
What the audience figures do—and do not—show
Disney reported that Moana 2 drew 27.3 million global Disney+ views in its first five streaming days after its March 12, 2025 streaming debut. The Walt Disney Company also reported on March 17, 2025 that the film had earned more than $1 billion worldwide and was, at that time, the third-highest-grossing release from Walt Disney Animation Studios. These figures indicate substantial reach; they do not establish whether the sequel’s songs or story are as effective as the original’s.
Rank #3
- Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles in this animated adventure sequel.
In its 2025 annual-meeting transcript, Disney named Moana 2 among its top three movies of 2024. That is the company’s characterization, not an independently defined ranking.
Where to watch Moana 2
Disney reported the film’s Disney+ streaming debut on March 12, 2025. Mashable’s review page, updated January 28, 2025, also said the film could be rented or bought through Apple TV, Prime Video, and other services, but that was historical availability information published before the streaming debut. Catalogs and transaction options vary by region and change over time, so check local listings for current availability and price rather than treating that older list as a guarantee.
Rank #4
- Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles in this animated adventure sequel.
For the most practical choice, compare whether the film is included with a subscription in your region or offered as a one-time rental or purchase. The cited information does not establish current territory-specific availability or prices.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The verdict
Edwards’s review recommends the sequel most strongly for its adventure, colorful animation, and Moana’s growth. If the songs are a major reason you return to the original, expect a noticeable drop in impact; the review also sees Nalo as less fully realized than the original’s central threat.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Walt Disney Animation Studios? animated musical reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After hearing from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey into long-lost waters for an adventure. Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes in this film may affect photosensitive viewers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
