If you’ve spent the last year dodging spoilers or just really want to rewatch that scene with the Kakamora for the fiftieth time, you're probably asking the big question: when is Moana 2 actually going to be on your TV?
Honestly, the timeline for this one has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
The movie officially hit theaters on November 27, 2024. It absolutely crushed the box office. We're talking over $1 billion globally. Because it was such a massive hit, Disney took their sweet time bringing it to the streaming world. They wanted to milk every cent out of those theatrical seats, which makes sense from a business perspective but is kinda annoying if you're just trying to have a family movie night at home.
The official Disney Plus date
Mark your calendars: Moana 2 began streaming on Disney Plus on March 12, 2025.
If you are reading this right now in early 2026, the movie is already there. You can go watch it this second. It’s been available for almost a year now.
Disney followed a roughly 105-day "theatrical window" before putting it on the app. This is way longer than what we saw during the pandemic when movies would pop up on streaming after like 45 days. They’ve reverted to the old-school way of doing things. Big blockbusters stay in theaters longer to protect the "cinema experience" (and the bank accounts of the executives).
Why the delay happened
It’s pretty fascinating how this movie even came to be. Originally, this wasn't even supposed to be a movie. Bob Iger and the team at Disney were developing it as a long-form series for Disney Plus. Basically, a five-episode show.
But then, they saw the footage.
The story was apparently so good—and let's be real, the potential for a billion dollars was so high—that they pivoted mid-production. They stitched those episodes together, added some cinematic flair, and turned it into a full-blown sequel. This "story pivot" is why some critics felt the pacing was a bit weird, but audiences didn't seem to care. They just wanted more Maui.
What’s different this time around?
Three years have passed in the story since Moana returned the heart of Te Fiti. She’s older, she’s a leader, and she actually has a little sister now named Simea. Simea is arguably the cutest part of the whole movie, though Heihei the rooster still gives her a run for her money in the "stealing the scene" department.
The new crew
Moana isn't sailing solo (well, with a demigod) this time. She’s got a whole wayfinding crew:
- Loto: A brainy engineer who keeps the canoe from falling apart.
- Kele: A grumpy farmer who is basically just there to grow food and complain.
- Moni: A massive Maui fanboy who spends most of the movie geeking out.
The music situation
You've probably noticed a different "vibe" to the songs. That’s because Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't return for the sequel. Instead, the music was handled by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (the duo behind the Bridgerton musical).
While "Beyond" is the big standout track—sort of the "How Far I'll Go" for 2024—the overall soundtrack received mixed reviews. Some people found it a bit "pop-heavy" compared to the first film's Broadway-style roots. Still, it’s catchy. You'll have it stuck in your head for three days minimum.
The future of the franchise
If you’ve already watched the sequel on Disney Plus and you're craving more, you don’t have to wait forever. Disney is going full-throttle on the Moana universe.
The live-action Moana remake is officially on the horizon. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is returning to play the live-action version of Maui. It’s currently slated for a theatrical release on July 10, 2026.
They've already wrapped production on that one, so barring any massive delays, we’ll be seeing a real-life Motunui very soon. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle the water effects and the Kakamora in a "realistic" setting without it looking like a fever dream.
How to watch Moana 2 right now
If you haven't seen it yet, here is the breakdown:
- Disney Plus: It's included in your subscription. No extra "Premier Access" fee this time.
- Digital Purchase: You can buy it on platforms like Apple TV or Amazon if you don't want to keep a monthly subscription.
- Physical Media: The Blu-ray and DVD were released on March 18, 2025, for the collectors out there.
Honestly, even with the critical "mixed" bag (it sits around a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the first one's 95%), it's worth the watch. The animation of the ocean is even better than the first one—if that’s even possible—and the ending sets up a much larger world for Moana to explore in the future.
To get the most out of your rewatch, check out the "Beyond" reprise at the end; the vocals from Auli'i Cravalho have noticeably matured since 2016, and it gives the character a much more grounded, powerful energy.