Dwayne Johnson Responds to Live-Action ‘Moana’ Remake’s Negative Reviews

Dwayne Johnson has remained unfazed by the negative critical reception to his live-action "Moana" remake, telling People, "That's just the way it goes because we're in this business." The actor and producer recalled that the reviews initially came out positively, but later shifted to more negative tones. Johnson noted that he and his wife Lauren Hashian have had many such conversations at home during the post-baby sleepless nights.

When asked about the challenges moving forward, Johnson emphasized the importance of focusing on the present moment and the reactions at hand. He stated that if one loves the film, that's great, and if they don't, it's perfectly fine. The live-action film, which starred Johnson as demigod Maui, debuted on July 10 underperforming at the worldwide box office with $263 million gross.

The film, directed by Thomas Kail, holds just a 31% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with negative reviews from professional critics. Despite the lackluster performance, Johnson highlighted that the film's cultural significance mattered greatly. He pointed out that the movie showcased Polynesian-inspired world and was "why the movie was made," allowing his kids and others to see themselves on the big screen for the first time.