What Is the IMDb Rating for Moana 2

Moana 2 holds an IMDb user rating of 6.3 out of 10, based on over 123,000 user ratings as of May 2026. This score reflects a significant drop from the original Moana, which earned a 7.6/10 rating and became a critical and commercial success when it released in 2016.

The sequel’s lower rating indicates that audiences had mixed reactions to the film’s story, characters, and execution.

The 1.3-point difference between the two films may not seem dramatic numerically, but it represents a meaningful shift in how viewers received the sequel.

While Moana 2 still falls within the “acceptable” range on IMDb’s 10-point scale, the rating places it in a middle-tier category where films have genuine strengths but also notable weaknesses that divided audiences.

Understanding what this rating means requires context about IMDb’s rating system, the sheer volume of viewers who contributed to this score, and how Moana 2 compares to other animated sequels.

Table of Contents

• How Does Moana 2’s Rating Compare to Other Disney and Pixar Sequels?
• What Factors Typically Influence IMDb Ratings for Animated Sequels?
• The Box Office Versus Critical Reception Paradox for Moana 2
• How to Interpret a 6.3/10 Rating in Practical Terms
• What Does the 123,000+ Rating Sample Size Tell Us?
• The Role of Nostalgia and Franchise Fatigue in Sequel Ratings
• Looking Forward—What Moana 2’s Rating Means for Future Sequels
• Conclusion

How Does Moana 2’s Rating Compare to Other Disney and Pixar Sequels?

The 6.3/10 rating for Moana 2 places it below most major Disney and Pixar sequels released in recent years. For comparison, Toy Story 4 earned 7.3/10, while Toy Story 3 achieved 8.3/10.

Frozen II, another Disney animated sequel with significant audience expectations, scored 7.2/10. Even Finding Dory, which some critics considered a step down from the original Finding Nemo, maintained a 7.3/10 rating.

This puts Moana 2’s 6.3/10 in a notably lower bracket, suggesting audiences found fewer strengths in the sequel compared to these other franchises. The difference becomes even more pronounced when looking at critically acclaimed animated sequels. Shrek 2 holds an 8.0/10 rating, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse scored 8.5/10.

These comparisons suggest that Moana 2 faced particular challenges in its storytelling or execution that resonated negatively with enough viewers to suppress its overall score.

The presence of over 123,000 ratings also means this score reflects a broad audience sample, not just dedicated fans, which lends credibility to the rating as a representation of general audience sentiment.

What Factors Typically Influence IMDb Ratings for Animated Sequels?

imdb ratings for animated films are influenced by multiple factors beyond just plot quality. Character development, animation quality, voice acting performance, musical score, and emotional resonance all contribute to how viewers rate a film.

Moana 2’s 6.3 rating suggests that while the film may have excelled in some areas like animation or music, it likely fell short in others such as narrative coherence, character arcs, or emotional impact compared to audience expectations set by the original film.

One important limitation to consider is that IMDb ratings skew toward users who are engaged enough to create an account and rate films, which can overrepresent both passionate fans and vocal critics. Casual moviegoers who saw Moana 2 in theaters but felt neutral about it are less likely to have submitted ratings.

This means IMDb scores can sometimes reflect polarized opinions more than average viewer experience. For Moana 2 specifically, with 123,000 ratings, there’s a substantial sample size, but the true spectrum of all viewers who watched the film likely included more middle-ground opinions than the rating alone suggests.

The Box Office Versus Critical Reception Paradox for Moana 2

Despite its 6.3/10 IMDb rating, Moana 2 achieved significant commercial success at the global box office, demonstrating that audience ratings and financial performance don’t always align. The film grossed approximately $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time.

This apparent contradiction reveals an important truth about modern film consumption: families may still see sequels in theaters for entertainment value, nostalgia, or franchise loyalty, even when critical reception is mixed.

This pattern mirrors what happened with other major animated sequels. The Madagascar franchise continued to draw audiences despite declining critical scores with each installment. Similarly, Minions spin-offs generated enormous box office revenue while maintaining moderate IMDb ratings around 6.5 to 7.0.

The lesson for viewers is that IMDb ratings should be one factor among many when deciding whether to watch a film, but they shouldn’t be the sole indicator of whether a movie deserves your time or money.

How to Interpret a 6.3/10 Rating in Practical Terms

A 6.3/10 rating on IMDb generally translates to a film that’s worth watching if you enjoyed the original, but perhaps not a must-see experience. The film likely has entertaining moments, competent animation, and enough story to hold attention, but audiences felt it lacked the originality, emotional depth, or narrative satisfaction of the first Moana.

For families considering a theatrical experience, a 6.3 suggests the film offers sufficient entertainment value to justify the ticket price, though adults watching alongside children may find the experience more rewarding for younger viewers.

The practical tradeoff is clear: if you’re a major Moana fan with deep attachment to the characters, you’ll probably want to watch the sequel regardless of the 6.3 rating.

If you’re someone considering it purely on its merits as a standalone film, you might benefit more from rewatching the original or exploring other animated films that maintain stronger ratings.

Streaming services and home video release have made this decision easier than it was in the theatrical era—you can wait to watch Moana 2 at home without the financial commitment, allowing you to experience it on your own terms.

What Does the 123,000+ Rating Sample Size Tell Us?

The fact that over 123,000 users have rated Moana 2 on IMDb is significant for statistical reliability. This sample size provides confidence that the 6.3/10 score represents genuine audience sentiment rather than a fluctuation based on a small, unrepresentative group.

For comparison, many lesser-known films have ratings based on only a few thousand votes, making them more susceptible to skewing from dedicated fans or organized campaigns. However, one important warning is that even large sample sizes can be biased if voting patterns change over time—early viewers’ enthusiasm differs from later viewers’ perspectives.

Moana 2’s rating may have stabilized somewhat as of May 2026, since the film released in 2024 and has been available for assessment for approximately two years. Initial release ratings sometimes drift as more general audiences view films after the opening buzz fades.

If Moana 2’s rating has remained stable at 6.3 despite incoming votes from newer viewers, this suggests a consistent baseline perception of the film’s quality. The limitation here is that IMDb doesn’t publicly show historical rating data, so we can’t definitively say whether this score has shifted up or down since release.

The Role of Nostalgia and Franchise Fatigue in Sequel Ratings

Sequel ratings are often influenced by the nostalgia factor surrounding original films. Moana released in 2016 and quickly became beloved by audiences, earning strong critical praise and generating deep emotional connections.

When sequels arrive a decade or more later, they must compete against idealized memories of the original rather than against the original film’s actual performance.

Moana 2’s 6.3 rating likely reflects some disappointment among viewers who expected lightning to strike twice and found the sequel couldn’t match the emotional impact of discovering Moana the first time. Franchise fatigue also plays a role in animated sequel ratings.

Audiences grew accustomed to seeing Disney and Pixar release sequels more frequently, reducing the special event feeling that surrounded the original Moana’s release. Additionally, the 2024 theatrical landscape offered more animated film options than 2016 did, giving audiences more points of comparison when rating Moana 2.

Looking Forward—What Moana 2’s Rating Means for Future Sequels

Moana 2’s 6.3/10 rating serves as a data point for Disney and other studios considering future animated sequels. The film demonstrates that commercially successful franchises don’t automatically produce sequels that match or exceed original ratings.

Studios will likely pay attention to the feedback embedded in this score—if viewers felt the sequel’s story lacked depth or the new characters didn’t resonate, these insights influence how future Moana projects are developed.

The rating also reflects broader trends in animated filmmaking, where studios are increasingly leveraging established franchises for revenue while audiences simultaneously demand innovation and meaningful storytelling. As animation technology advances and storytelling becomes more sophisticated, viewers’ expectations for sequels continue to evolve.

Moana 2’s moderate rating suggests that technical excellence and brand recognition alone cannot guarantee the audience satisfaction that made the original film exceptional.

Conclusion

Moana 2’s IMDb rating of 6.3 out of 10, based on over 123,000 user votes, tells a story of a competent but somewhat disappointing sequel. The film’s score falls notably below its predecessor’s 7.6 rating and below many comparable animated sequels, reflecting mixed audience reception upon its 2024 release.

This rating doesn’t indicate a failure—the film’s commercial success proves it still entertained millions of viewers—but it does reveal that audiences found meaningful gaps between their expectations and what the sequel delivered.

If you’re considering watching Moana 2, the 6.3 rating should be interpreted alongside your own attachment to the original film and your current mood for entertainment. The rating accurately reflects that the sequel offers some value but may not achieve the emotional resonance or narrative satisfaction you experienced with the first Moana.

For film analysts and industry observers, the rating serves as important data about audience preferences in the era of frequent sequels, suggesting that nostalgic franchises remain commercially viable but face growing challenges in satisfying established fan bases.

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