Dwayne Johnson has spoken about the tepid critical reception to Disney's live-action Moana remake, telling People magazine that the negative reviews are simply part of the business.

"The first two reviews were amazing," Johnson said, "and then the reviews went another way." His response to the backlash was philosophical: "That's just the way it goes because we're in this business" (Variety).

The numbers tell the story critics told. The film holds a 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 42% on Metacritic, both aggregators of professional criticism — low marks by any standard. Variety's own critic Owen Gleiberman took a different view, writing that the remake "earns a place alongside" the original animated film (Variety).

Audiences were kinder. The film drew positive audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with some viewers rating it 10 out of 10 (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial). Catherine Laga'aia stars in the title role.

Johnson, who produced the film and reprises his voice role as the demigod Maui, told People that the cultural response mattered most to him. "The culture really stood up," he said, referring to the Pacific Islander community's engagement with the film (People). His message to viewers was simple: "If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem."

Behind the scenes, the picture is less relaxed. Johnson told People he and his wife had conversations at home about what happens "beyond this opening weekend" amid the poor reviews. Those concerns appear well grounded. Disney's Josh D'Amaro said during the company's August 5 earnings call that the box office for Moana was soft (Variety). Per Variety reporting, the live-action remake could lose at least $100 million during its theatrical run (Variety).

The remake follows a pattern that has become familiar at Disney: animated classics translated into live action with mixed commercial and critical results. Johnson's role in the project is layered — he is both a producer and an on-screen performer, which means his stake in the film's performance extends beyond a typical acting fee.

For now, Johnson is framing the reception as the cost of doing business in a medium where every release is a public verdict. The gap between critics and audiences is not unusual. The gap between the film's budget and its projected box office is the part that will keep conversations going at Disney long past opening weekend.