Is 'Moana' OK for little kids? A parent's guide to live action movie

Disney's "Moana" is setting sail again, this time starring real people but with still a very cartoonish Dwayne Johnson.

A decade after the original musical adventure – which earned Oscar nods for best animated feature and original song – a live-action version is hitting movie theaters on July 10.

Australian actress Catherine Lagaʻaia stars as the 16-year-old title wayfinder, who ventures beyond the reef on an epic quest to save her home island of Motunui. Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa.

The first movie was beloved by all ages. But is the live-action take OK for little ones being introduced to the world of "Moana"? Here's what moms and dads need to know:

What is Disney's new 'Moana' about?

Those who remember the animated film know where this one is going: Moana is warned by her father, Chief Tui (John Tui), to stay on land instead of heading out into the dangerous ocean. However, when her island's resources are threatened, Moana embraces her ancestors' wayfaring heritage and heads out to sea to find Maui, deliver the heart of Te Fiti (which Maui stole back in the day) and save her people.

Maui doesn't want to go at first but Moana convinces him to come along, and the unlikely pair bond as friends while facing the violent coconut-armored Kakamora, glamorous crab Tamatoa and lava monster Te Kā.

How long is the live action 'Moana' movie?

The runtime is 115 minutes − or five minutes short of two hours. It's actually not that much longer than the original animated "Moana," which clocked in at an hour and 43 minutes.

What is the age rating of the live action 'Moana'?

The "Moana" redo is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for action/peril, some scary images, rude humor and brief thematic elements." (The original movie notched the same rating for the same reasons, only without the "rude humor.") There's a "son of a beach" joke and Maui's little tattoo guy falls into the "cave" of the demigod's buttcrack, so the humor is pretty tame.

There are a lot of action sequences where Moana and Maui have to get themselves out of harrowing situations, including a fairly sizable lava monster that might freak out really little children. Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land. (It's a hairy moment, but she gets out OK.)

Who plays Moana in the live action cast?

Catherine Lagaʻaia, a 19-year-old Sydney native, was chosen as the new Moana from more than 32,000 audition submissions. (Two of her sisters also tried out.) Lagaʻaia graduated from the same performing arts high school as fellow Aussie Milly Alcock ("Supergirl"), and "Moana" is Lagaʻaia's first film role after starring alongside Sigourney Weaver in the miniseries "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart." She's also following in her father's footsteps: Jay Laga'aia, who is of Samoan descent, starred as Captain Tycho in George Lucas' "Star Wars" prequel trilogy.

The original Moana, Auliʻi Cravalho, is also back but not on screen. She is an executive producer on the live-action movie and also performs on Lin-Manuel Miranda's new original song, "Along the Way," with Lagaʻaia and Johnson.

Is the new 'Moana' remake appropriate for little kids?

The redo tends darker than the first "Moana" yet remains pretty family-friendly. It also might take a while for young children (or impatient adults) to invest in it. With an added emphasis on Moana's parents preparing her to lead their people one day, the movie is slow-going at first, though there's plenty of singing and dancing. (And early appearances from Heihei will get the kids laughing.) Tweens and teens will appreciate that dramatic angle more, and the film really hits its groove when Johnson's Maui shows up. The Rock does a splendid job carrying over his animated character's physical comedy and over-the-top personality to a new medium.

Big action scenes tend to be more harrowing in live action than animation, so that's something to look out for with the littles. But if your children are already fans of the first movie, they should like this "Moana." Much of it is exactly the same, from plot points and specific jokes to all the catchy Miranda tunes, though there's an awe and a wonder to the excellent cartoon version that the new "Moana" can't quite capture.

Where can I watch the live action 'Moana'?

The movie is in theaters on July 10 and probably will be on the big screen for a while. Those hoping to stream it at home will need to wait a smidge. If it follows a similar path to last year's Disney remake of "Lilo & Stitch," "Moana" will likely be available via on-demand platforms in August and on Disney+ in late September or early October.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 'Moana' OK for little kids? A parent's guide to live action movie

Reporting by Brian Truitt, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 11:34 AM.