Audiences and critics are firmly divided over the new live action Moana film, which came out on Friday, July 10. It is currently Verified Hot by audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Audiences Love Moana

With over 500 ratings from verified viewers, the live action Moana has a 90% audience score (Verified Hot) on Rotten Tomatoes. Many users cite seeing the movie with their kiddos or note that Moana is one of their favorite Disney characters. User Corey said, “The hate on this movie is insane one of the best live action remakes.” Others actually preferred the live action over the original animated film.

These user reviews are at direct odds with the critics. Although critical opinion has improved slightly since our first update on the new release on July 8, the critics’ score has only gone from 31% to 34% and is still considered Rotten on the platform.

The trends for Rotten Tomatoes scores on Disney live action films in the last decade are really fascinating. Sometimes audiences and critics are divided:

• Snow White: Critics Score 39% / Audience Score 69%
• Mufasa: Critics Score 56% / Audience Score 88%
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil: Critics Score 40% / Audience Score 95%
• The Lion King: Critics Score 52% / Audience Score 88%
• Aladdin: Critics Score 57% / Audience Score 94%

Sometimes audiences and critics agree, and films are successful:

• The Little Mermaid: Critics Score 67% / Audience Score 93%
• Lilo & Stitch: Critics Score 72% / Audience Score 91%
• Cruella: Critics Score 75% / Audience Score 97%
• Christopher Robin: Critics Score 73% / Audience Score 83%
• Beauty and the Beast: Critics Score 71% / Audience Score 79%
• The Jungle Book: Critics Score 94% / Audience Score 86%

Or critics will like films much more than audiences do:

• Peter Pan and Wendy: Critics Score 63% / Audience Score 11%
• Mulan: Critics Score 71% / Audience Score 46%
• Lady and the Tramp: Critics Score 67% / Audience Score 49%

But other times both audiences and critics have hated the movies, sometimes equally:

• Pinocchio: Critics Score 27% / Audience Score 27%
• Dumbo: Critics Score 46% / Audience Score 47%
• Alice Through the Looking Glass: Critics Score 29% / Audience Score 48%

How about you? Are you looking forward to seeing this movie? Let us know on social media.

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