WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Moana 2.
Nalo, the main antagonist inMoana 2,ended up solving a major mystery from the 2016 original film. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson lead theensemble cast ofMoana 2, which also features voice performances by Awhimai Fraser, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk, and Jermaine Clement. After releasing in theaters on August 18, 2025,Moana 2is currently projected to earna five-day Thanksgiving gross between $215-220 million domestically, which would surpass the record set byThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.for the best five-day weekend of all time.
ThroughoutMoana 2, Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors. She leaves her home island of Motunui and sets out to find other people on the ocean with the hope of uniting them once again. It’s revealed that Nalo, a wicked and powerful storm god, had sunk a crucial connecting island called Motufetu deep into the ocean to prevent islanders from connecting.Moana’s goal is to discover Motufetu and bring all of the oceanic people together.
Nalo’s Curse Explains Why Moana Didn’t Meet Any Other Islanders In The First Movie
Nalo prevented Moana from connecting to far-off islands
Nalo’s curse inMoana 2explains why Moana didn’t meet any other islanders in the first movie. It was always sort of curious that there were seemingly no other signs of human life beyond the island. Following the release of Moana 2, audiences now know why Moana didn’t encounter other islanders because Nalo made that impossible.Nalo planned to gain more power by separating the various islanders, effectively cutting off Moana from her extended community as a result.
Moana 2 Post-Credits Scene Explained
The film also ends with a special reunion in the end credits that can set the stage for future Moana movies.
Moana 2takes place during the same time period and location as the original film, which is 2,000 years ago in a fictionalized version of the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Moana also features several demigod characters, the most prominent of them Maui, which is rooted in Polynesian myth. AlthoughNalo is not seen in human form until the end ofMoana 2, his fierce willpower and godlike abilities to control the weather are put on full display and cause Moana and her crew serious trouble. If it weren’t for Nalo, Moana would have likely connected with many other islanders.
Moana 2 Breaking Nalo’s Curse Is Great For The Franchise’s Future
Moana 3 is sure to be the franchise’s biggest expansion yet
Now that Moana has broken Nalo’s curse in the sequel, there are all sorts of possibilities and directions that the franchise could head in. As seen at theend ofMoana 2, Nola’s curse being brokenenables people from various islands to travel to Moana’s home island of Motunui, where her little sister Simea is anxiously waiting for her return. One thing that is nearly certain is thatMoana 3will eventually expand theworld of Moanaeven further thanMoana 2did and could introduce all sorts of new characters who will face a potentially stronger threat from Nalo and Matangi.
Moana 2
Cast
Moana 2 is the sequel to the 2016 animated film Moana. Directed by David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the film continues the journey of Moana as she embarks on new adventures, exploring the vast Pacific Ocean while encountering new characters and challenges along the way.
