What age is Moana appropriate for?

Moana is rated PG and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 5+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film contains a massive lava demon, Te Ka, who chases Moana's canoe across the ocean with fire and lava attacks, as well as a frightening sequence where darkness and blight visibly consume the islands — scenes likely to disturb children under 5.

Does Moana have swearing or bad language?

Moana has Very Mild language. Characters say 'hell' once and 'damn' once — the only two instances of mild language in the entire film

Moana has Mild violence. Te Ka, a massive lava monster, attacks Moana's canoe with fire and lava in both an early sequence and again during the climactic final confrontation — depicted in animated style with no blood or injury shown

Is Moana scary for children?

Moana has Mild scary scenes. The opening sequence depicting the origin of the curse — Te Ka's emergence and darkness spreading across the world — is startling and sets an ominous tone before the story properly begins

Is Moana OK for Kids?

Name: Moana
Director: Ron Clements
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation
Released: 2016
Duration: 107 min
Cast: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement

AdventureComedyFamilyAnimation

PG⭐ 7.6 / 102016 · 1h 47m

Ron Clements

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

Rent

Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Te Ka, a massive lava monster, attacks Moana's canoe with fire and lava in both an early sequence and again during the climactic final confrontation — depicted in animated style with no blood or injury shown
The Kakamora, a crew of small coconut-armoured pirates, launch a full attack on Moana and Maui's vessel, successfully stealing the heart of Te Fiti — played as exciting action rather than threatening
Tamatoa, a giant glittering crab, engages Maui in a fight in an underwater cave, cracking Maui's magical fish hook — presented as comedic villain encounter with no lasting harm shown
Maui shape-shifts into various animal and creature forms during combat sequences, used as both a fighting technique and a source of humour
No characters die on screen; all violence is animated and consequence-light — the overall tone is action-adventure rather than threatening or cruel

💬Language

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Characters say 'hell' once and 'da**' once — the only two instances of mild language in the entire film
No moderate, strong, or extreme profanity of any kind detected — no a**, b**ch, s**t, or f-words present
No creative insults or near-profanity beyond the two mild words listed above

👻Scary Scenes

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

The opening sequence depicting the origin of the curse — Te Ka's emergence and darkness spreading across the world — is startling and sets an ominous tone before the story properly begins
Te Ka as a massive lava demon actively chasing Moana's small canoe across the open ocean is the film's most frightening sequence and is likely to scare children under 7
Tamatoa's cave features a genuine mortality threat as Maui and Moana are trapped with a predatory giant crab — the enclosed setting and danger feel tense
The darkness and blight visibly consuming the islands, killing vegetation and threatening the entire community, creates a sustained sense of dread across multiple scenes
Moana's internal confrontation with self-doubt and the ocean's silence creates emotional tension — less visually scary but emotionally heavy for empathetic children
The film resolves its scariest moment with compassion rather than combat — Moana realises Te Ka is actually the wounded goddess Te Fiti and approaches her with empathy, transforming the monster back, which provides clear emotional resolution

💕Romance

None▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

No romantic content of any kind is present in the film
Nothing sexual is implied or shown at any point
Moana and Maui's relationship is entirely one of friendship, mentorship, and mutual respect — no romantic dimension whatsoever

🍺Substances

None▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

No alcohol, drugs, or other substances appear or are referenced anywhere in the film
Nothing is glorified or shown negatively in relation to substances — the category is entirely absent

⚡Stimulation

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

The final confrontation between Moana and Te Ka involves sustained lava and fire imagery, rapid action, and high emotional stakes — the most intense sequence in the film and likely overwhelming for very young or sensory-sensitive children
Maui's battle with Tamatoa the giant crab features rapid shape-shifting, a visually busy underwater environment, and fast-paced action that may feel overwhelming in combination
The Kakamora pirate attack is an exciting, fast-moving chase sequence with rapid cutting and loud sound design
Moana learning to wayfind and sail the ocean provides exciting but gentler stimulation — upbeat music and visual wonder without the intensity of the combat sequences
Parents of sensory-sensitive children should be aware the film alternates between calm, music-driven emotional scenes and sudden bursts of high-intensity action

Moana — Heads Up for Parents

Despite the film's warm and colourful tone, the opening sequence depicting Te Ka's emergence and the darkness spreading across the world arrives before the story has established any emotional safety or likeable characters — parents of children under 6 should be aware this ominous, visually dark opening may set an unexpectedly frightening tone before the film's humour and heart kick in.

About Moana

Moana is a 2016 Disney animated adventure following a young Polynesian chief's daughter who is chosen by the ocean to sail beyond her island's reef and restore the stolen heart of the goddess Te Fiti, saving her people from a spreading blight. She must persuade the demigod Maui to help her return the heart, battling lava monsters, pirates, and a giant crab along the way. The film is warm, humorous, and emotionally rich, blending action-adventure with a deeply personal story of identity and heritage.

✅

Fine for kids to watch alone

The content is well within the range of most children aged 6 and above watching independently; however, parents of children under 6 or those with sensitivity to monster imagery may want to watch alongside them given Te Ka's genuinely scary lava demon appearance and the film's intense final confrontation sequence.

Family Takeaways from Moana

What it gets right

✓Authentic emotional stakes without trauma — Moana's self-doubt during the ocean's silence is portrayed with real weight, giving children a relatable model for working through fear and uncertainty without the film becoming distressing
✓A female protagonist whose arc is entirely about identity, courage, and community — never defined by romance — making it a strong choice for families wanting stories where girls lead on their own terms
✓The resolution of the villain through compassion rather than violence — when Moana restores Te Fiti's heart by recognising the wounded goddess within the lava demon — is a rare and meaningful storytelling choice worth discussing with children

Moana Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

Moana's journey is fundamentally about honoring her grandmother's wisdom and fulfilling her duty to save her family and village. The film emphasizes respect for elders, family legacy, and putting community needs above personal desires.

Community Notes

Some Pacific Islander scholars and community members raised concerns at the time of release about the accuracy and respectfulness of the portrayal of Polynesian demigod Maui, including his physical depiction and the appropriation of sacred cultural figures for commercial entertainment — Disney consulted with a Pacific Islander cultural advisory board during production but debate within communities persists

Awards: Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film

Cast:Auliʻi CravalhoDwayne JohnsonRachel HouseTemuera MorrisonJemaine Clement