Disney's Moana Franchise Officially Returning To Theaters This Week

Disney is all about franchises, and one of their most popular ones in recent years officially returns this week with a new theatrical release. 2026 has already been a big year for Disney when it comes to franchises. Star Wars came back with The Mandalorian and Grogu, as did Pixar’s beloved Toy Story series with Toy Story 5.

The studio also found massive success turning Fox’s The Devil Wears Prada into a franchise, with The Devil Wears Prada 2 becoming one of 2026’s highest-grossing movies. The focus on IP is set to continue throughout the year, as Disney releases anticipated sequels like Avengers: Doomsday and Focker In-Law.

Disney’s preference for franchise films is nothing new, especially when they have so many avenues to make them. Between Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, 20th Century Studios, and Walt Disney Pictures, Disney holds the keys to some of the biggest ongoing titles audiences care about, whether that’s Frozen, Pirates of the Caribbean, Alien, or Inside Out.

Now, Walt Disney Pictures is bringing back a $1.7 billion franchise as the live-action Moana hits theaters this week. With a July 10 release date, the remake of the 2016 animated feature arrives to expand the original story and offer audiences around the world another way to experience Moana’s coming-of-age story.

Why Disney’s Live-Action Moana Will Be Worth Watching In Theaters

Although Disney has a shaky track record with these live-action remakes, Moana is one that will still be worth seeing on the big screen. It’s another opportunity to experience this known story in theaters and enjoy the world, the music, and the characters all over again, just in a different environment. This is an adventure designed to be seen on the biggest screens possible, not at home on streaming.

First reactions and reviews for Moana have yet to come, but some highlights are expected to help keep audiences entertained in theaters. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, this time getting to flex his actual muscles to bring the demigod role to life. Catherine Laga’aia steps into the lead role, with original star Auli’i Cravalho not returning (but still serving as a producer), and all indications are that she’ll make for a great new version of Moana.

Another enticing aspect of Moana is the music. The original animated movie includes several great songs, but Lin-Manuel Miranda returned to write a new one for the live-action remake, too. The new track, called “Along the Way,” includes Cravalho as a singer, with her, Laga’aia, and Johnson describing it as a song that unites the live-action and animated Moanas in a special way.

When Moana Will Release On Disney+

Catherine Laga'aia as Moana — Catherine Laga’aia as Moana

For anyone who can’t see Moana after it releases in theaters this week, there is always the option of watching it on streaming. The live-action remake will head to Disney+, and while the exact date is not confirmed, it is not expected to make its streaming debut until sometime in October.

Disney tends to wait about three months to move films from theaters to streaming. This includes a recurring gap of 103 days for their live-action remakes, which is the schedule Disney used for The Little Mermaid and Lilo & Stitch. If they treat their 2026 movie the same way, Moana would hit Disney+ on October 21.

There is a world where it comes to streaming a bit quicker. Moana‘s box office projections are not all that favorable. If the movie fails to really land with audiences and struggles at the box office, Disney could make the switch sooner. That’s what they did with Snow White last year when it came to Disney+ after only 82 days. This timetable would put Moana on Disney+ on September 30.

Either way, anyone not planning to see Moana in theaters will need to be prepared to wait a few months to see it on Disney+. A trip to your local cinema or holding out for a digital release (which could come in early September) will be the best options.