Moana 2 comes eight years after the original film, which grossed over $687 million dollars during its theatrical run back in 2016. 

Moana has also fared well on Disney Plus, where it has become one of the most streamed films since 2020, and eventually the most streamed across all platforms in 2023. Moana has even been a mainstay across the Disney parks, & she got her own walk through attraction called Journey of Moana at EPCOT. 

So, Moana 2 was inevitable: but is it in any good? I am surprised to say, it is good, even better than I expected. Now let’s put this into context: this is a film aimed primarily at children and it is a sequel. Disney films of yesteryear seemed to do a better job at meeting kids and adults in the middle, offering an enjoyable experience for both. 

Moana 2 does that for the most part successfully, featuring a familiar story—Moana has to again venture across the sea, this time even beyond where she went before—to find a sunken island that used to be a place for other Pacific Islanders to connect. Someone named Nalo, the new baddie, sunk it as a way to weaken the people. Sure, I’ll follow along, even when the plot is a little murky; like i said, this is a family friendly movie. 

With the stage set, we see the stakes raised higher; Moana has a baby sister now who is worried she won’t return. Maui, who Moana and her gang stumble upon while in the clutches of Mantangi, an enforcer of sorts for Nalo, lets her know as such, relaying to Moana that she is as good as dead trying to get past Nalo. 

Speaking of Moana’s gang, this go around she has a band of misfits who join her. To be honest, they took some time getting used to, as I questioned their utility to the plot or as comic relief. But, without giving away spoilers, they were funny and helpful enough, especially the elderly farmer, who provides perhaps the most poignant moment of the film in the third act. 

Highlights include another fun scene with the Kakamora, who we learn more about it, though we don’t get another Mad Max: Fury Road type scene, which to me, was a miss. 

The new songs had a high bar to reach and they just couldn’t clear it, lacking the stickiness of songs like How Far I’ll Go and You’re Welcome. But, they’re good enough: my early favorites are Beyond, Can I Get a Chee Hoo?, and Get Lost. Chee Hoo reminds me of Surface Pressure from Encanto, and similar to Encanto, the musical numbers here feel more Broadway in style and scope. 

For parents of little ones like me wondering if it’s too scary or heavy: I don’t think so. There are some flashing lights and several new fantastical creatures, but nothing too serious; my kids (all aged four & under) loved it. 

My final thoughts? A worthy sequel featuring musical flair and a satisfying adventure that perhaps unsurprisingly stays in the shadow of the original. The animation is vibrant, the music, fun, and the characters themselves seemed to enjoy the journey. Moana 2 is a perfectly serviceable sequel, and I think for Disney, that’s enough. 

Let me know your thoughts on Moana 2!

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