Disney Live-Action Remakes Ranked Worst To Best

Disney made cinematic history when they began releasing feature-length animated films with quality that was just as good as live-action motion pictures. Walt Disney elevated simple cartoons to an art form and, over the years, most of these films have become classics. When Disney as a studio began drawing from their own back catalog of animation to remake those movies into live-action, Disney fans and critics were skeptical of the need for those remakes. These films, however, are usually successful because they have a built-in audience of viewers who grew up watching them.

The live-action remakes that are the most successful find a balance between the nostalgia that keeps people coming back to the animated movies and fresh takes on the stories that give the audience something new. Updating the classics for a modern audience, even the 1990s Disney Renaissance animated movie, is what makes them work. Of course, not every live-action movie that shares a name with a Disney animated classic is a remake of it, by forging its own path, or adapting the original source material. Still, there are some truly great live-action remakes of Disney’s classic animated movies.

23

Pinocchio (2022)

Directed By Robert Zemeckis

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Pinocchio

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

ScreenRant logo

4/10

1.5/10

Release Date

September 8, 2022

Runtime

105 Minutes

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Writers

Robert Zemeckis, Chris Weitz, Carlo Collodi

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tom Hanks In The Los Angeles World Premiere Of Apple TV+ Series 'Masters Of The Air'

    Tom Hanks

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Benjamin Evan Ainsworth

Pinocchio is a 2022 adaptation directed by Guillermo del Toro, blending stop-motion animation with live-action elements to retell the classic tale by Carlo Collodi. The film features a star-studded voice cast including Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, and Gregory Mann. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Italy, the story explores themes of identity, love, and morality as the wooden puppet Pinocchio embarks on a transformative journey to become a real boy.

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Pinocchio is widely regarded as the worst live-action Disney remake among fans and critics. Even the performances of the always charming Tom Hanks and Cynthia Erivo couldn’t stop the critical response when it was released straight to streaming on Disney Plus. It didn’t do enough to justify it being made, as it was inferior to the animated film, and another adaptation came out close to the same time.

The movie had the misfortune of releasing around the same time as Guillermo del Toro’s own adaptation of the Pinocchio story (though not the Disney animated version), which was much more highly regarded. The blend of live-action and CGI as Pinocchio the puppet becomes a real boy is visually stunning, but it lacked the magic of the original animated version and left audiences wondering if Disney’s future slate of live-action remakes were even necessary.

22

Dumbo (2019)

Directed By Tim Burton

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Dumbo

PG

Family

Fantasy

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

4/10

7/10

Release Date

March 27, 2019

Runtime

112 Minutes

Director

Tim Burton

Writers

Ehren Kruger

Producers

Derek Frey, Katterli Frauenfelder, Nigel Gostelow

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Colin Farrell In The Los Angeles Press Day For Apple TV+'s 'Sugar'

    Colin Farrell

    Holt Farrier

  • Headshot Of Michael Keaton In The Los Angeles Special Screening Of 'Knox Goes Away'

    Michael Keaton

    V. A. Vandemere

Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic 1941 animated film. The story centers on a young elephant with oversized ears that enable him to fly, captivating audiences and saving a struggling circus. Starring Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Eva Green, the film delves into themes of family and personal growth while showcasing Burton’s signature visual style.

Main Genre

Family

Character(s)

Holt Farrier, V. A. Vandemere, Max Medici, Colette Marchant, J. Griffin Remington, Milly Farrier, Joe Farrier, Pramesh Singh, Rongo the Strongo, Neils Skellig, Ivan the Wonderful, Miss Atlantis, Catherine the Greater, Baritone Bates, Rufus Sorghum, Pritam Singh, Puck the Organ Grinder, Anne Farrier, Contortionist, Poodle Trainer, Cook, Mademoiselle Flambé, Hans Brugelbecker, Teenager in Crowd, Sotheby

Budget

170000000.0

Studio(s)

Tim Burton Productions, Walt Disney Pictures, Infinite Detective, Secret Machine Entertainment, British Film Commission, South Australian Film Corporation

IMDb ID

tt3861390

TMDB User Rating

6
.627

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After having success a few years prior with Alice in Wonderland, visionary director Tim Burton was brought in to put his stamp on the classic Disney character Dumbo. Dumbo already has the hallmarks of a Tim Burton movie given that the big-eared elephant is a lonely outcast who performs as a sideshow in a circus. However, audiences didn’t show up for this Disney remake, and Tim Burton’s signature style didn’t really shine through in the film.

Tim Burton's 5 Movie Remakes, Ranked Worst To Best

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Tim Burton’s 5 Movie Remakes, Ranked Worst To Best

From 2001’s Planet of the Apes to 2019’s Dumbo, Tim Burton has been involved in quite a few remakes, and they differ significantly in quality.

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Dumbo does have some great new additions that include the real-life futurist NYC theme park Dreamland setting, a great Batman Returns reunion between Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton, and a beautiful score from Burton collaborator Danny Elfman. Unfortunately, the movie suffers when trying to adapt an hour-long animated movie into a nearly two-hour film, as audiences didn’t gravitate to the new story elements. The movie is too long and the pacing too slow, making it one of the worst live-action Disney remakes.

21

Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)

Directed By James Bobin

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Alice Through the Looking Glass

PG

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

5/10

10/10

Release Date

May 25, 2016

Runtime

113 Minutes

Director

James Bobin

Writers

Linda Woolverton

Cast

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  • Headshot OF Mia Wasikowska

    Mia Wasikowska

  • Headshot Of Johnny Depp In The UK premiere of Jeanne Du Barry

    Johnny Depp

Main Genre

Adventure

Budget

170000000.0

Studio(s)

Legend3D, Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films, Team Todd, Tim Burton Productions

IMDb ID

tt2567026

TMDB User Rating

6
.562

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The sequel to Disney’s 2010 Alice in Wonderland brings back its impeccable cast, which includes Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter. It is also visually stunning with some impressive VFX work since Underland is full of colorful characters and landscapes. Given that Alice in Wonderland was a massive hit for Disney in 2010, it only made sense that they would try to replicate its success, but Alice Through the Looking Glass feels a tad too late to come out.

Where the movie falls flat is that it turns Alice’s fantasy world into a time-traveling science fiction drama as she seeks to change the Mad Hatter’s (Johnny Depp) past. The movie sought to do something completely different from the Alice story initially created by Lewis Carroll and adapted for Disney animation, but it was unnecessary since the world Carroll created was already so rich.

20

Lady And The Tramp (2019)

Directed By Charlie Bean

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Lady and the Tramp

PG

Romance

Family

ScreenRant logo

6/10

Release Date

November 12, 2019

Director

Charlie Bean

Writers

Andrew Bujalski

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tessa Thompson In The V&A Summer Party 2024

    Tessa Thompson

  • Headshot Of Janelle Monae

    Janelle Monae

A remake of Disney’s 1955 animated film of the same name, Lady and the Tramp blends live-action and CGI to tell the story of two anthropomorphized dogs from different worlds who meet and fall in love. Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux star as Lady and Tramp respectively, with a wider ensemble cast that includes Thomas Mann, Kiersey Clemons, Yvette Nicole Brown, and F. Murray Abraham. 

Budget

$60 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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Lady and the Tramp was the first live-action remake to be released on Disney+ instead of going to theaters, and it feels like it was made with that choice in mind. The story itself is pretty similar to the original, and fans accepted it for that. However, the blend of live-action and CGI just didn’t work. A higher budget with a theatrical release in mind before the movie went into production would have done wonders for it.

Disney only released a few more remakes straight to Disney +, perhaps realizing that the theatrical market for their live-action adaptation was the more lucrative option.

The choice to use real dogs is sweet, but the way they were made to talk is the most awkward of visual effects. The CGI works for famous scenes like the pasta sharing, but its use throughout the movie as a whole could use a lot of work. It’s not a bad movie since the story remains intact, but it’s not a movie many fans would have paid to see, making it a decent remake that is best suited to a lazy afternoon of binge-watching.

19

102 Dalmatians (2000)

Directed By Kevin Lima

Cruella yelling in 102 Dalmatians

102 Dalmatians has one thing that stands out: Glenn Close plays an excellent villain. She has the swagger and sparkle as Cruella de Vil and makes the character genuinely scary in this sequel to the live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians. While the first live-action remake was a decent attempt, 102 Dalmatians falls behind it in most regards, most notably with the story itself, which makes it a let-down.

Unfortunately, Close is absolutely the best part of the movie since it largely retreads the exact same plot as the first with Cruella setting out to make herself a Dalmatian coat. The only difference is that she’s gone through a rehabilitation program and proceeds to go right back to her evil ways. With nothing new about the story or the characters, 102 Dalmatians didn’t successfully play on the nostalgia for the animated movie.

18

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)

Directed By Jon Turteltaub

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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

PG

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

6/10

Release Date

July 14, 2010

Runtime

109 minutes

Director

Jon Turteltaub

Writers

Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard, Matt Lopez

Cast

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  • Headshot of Jay Baruchel

    Jay Baruchel

  • Headshot Of Alfred Molina

    Alfred Molina

Budget

$150 Million

Studio(s)

Disney, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Broken Road Productions, Saturn Films

Distributor(s)

Disney

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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is unique among other Disney live-action movie remakes in that it didn’t remake an entire movie or provide a live-action sequel to an animated property. Instead, the movie is actually inspired by one specific sequence in Fantasia. In the animated property, one sequence sees Mickey Mouse as the apprentice to a powerful sorcerer who finds himself at a loss when he tries to use magic to bring cleaning tools to life to do the jobs themselves.

While that particular sequence does happen in the movie, with Jay Baruchel as the apprentice and Nicolas Cage as the sorcerer, most of the story for the movie is brand new. It utilized a great blending of practical and computer-generated effects to make for a fun action movie, but the magic and beauty of Fantasia just isn’t there. It’s still an alright attempt at Disney trying something a bit more ambitious than its usual remake fare.

17

Mulan (2020)

Directed By Niki Caro

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Mulan

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Drama

ScreenRant logo

9/10

4.4/10

Release Date

September 4, 2020

Runtime

1h 55m

Director

Niki Caro

Writers

Lauren Hynek, Amanda Silver, Elizabeth Martin, Rick Jaffa

Franchise(s)

Mulan

Cast

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    Yoson An

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    Doua Moua

Budget

$200 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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While the 1998 version of Mulan is beloved by Disney fans, the live-action version didn’t get nearly the same response. The film’s greatest advantage is its visual spectacle, with beautiful shots and colors enhancing each scene. It failed in many other elements and couldn’t recapture what makes the animated movie one of the best Disney princess films. Perhaps the weakest part of Mulan is that it fails to recapture the magic of the 1998 film.

The movie failed to be a straight-up Disney remake, and it also failed as a historic retelling of a legend.

The general premise of the film was the same as the original, but the new version removed the music, Mushu, and Shang while adding the shape-shifting witch Xianniang. American viewers were disappointed by the Disney elements that were removed from the original, while Chinese audiences felt it was still historically inaccurate and reliant on Western perspectives. The movie failed to be a straight-up Disney remake, and it also failed as a historic retelling of a legend. With stunning cinematography and solid acting, though, it’s hardly the worst of the Disney live-action remakes.

16

101 Dalmatians (1996)

Directed By Stephen Herek

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101 Dalmatians

g

Adventure

Comedy

ScreenRant logo

6/10

Release Date

November 27, 1996

Runtime

103minutes

Director

Stephen Herek

Writers

John Hughes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Glenn Close

    Glenn Close

  • Headshot of Jeff Daniels

    Jeff Daniels

Story By

Dodie Smith

Budget

$67 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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Much of John Hughes’ 1990s output were remakes, like Flubber and Miracle on 34th Street. For 101 Dalmatians, he put his stamp on the classic story. Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson play Roger and Anita, owners of Dalmatians wanted badly by the devilish Cruella de Vil, played brilliantly by Glenn Close. Seeing the beloved animated movie come to life and all the dalmatians on screen is the best part of 101 Dalmatians, and Glenn Close, of course.

Glenn Close seems to be having the time of her life as the iconic villain and the film ranks as one of her greatest performances. However, the rest of the movie was criticized for issues like Hughes repeating himself by adding two bumbling thieves reminiscent of Home Alone. Despite the critical reviews, the film was a box-office hit, garnering a sequel, and a villain origin story, Cruella, starring Emma Stone. Realistically, 101 Dalmatians is responsible for paving the way for the live-action Disney remakes that came to the screen nearly two decades later.

15

Snow White (2025)

Directed By Marc Webb

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Snow White

PG

Family

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

5/10

39

2.6/10

Release Date

March 21, 2025

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Marc Webb

Writers

Erin Cressida Wilson, Wilhelm Grimm

Producers

Callum McDougall, Marc Platt

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Rachel Zegler

    Rachel Zegler

    Snow White

  • Headshot Of Gal Gadot

    Gal Gadot

    Evil Queen

Main Genre

Fantasy

Character(s)

Snow White, Evil Queen, Jonathan, Grumpy, Huntsman, Maple, Guard Arthur, Kitchen & Finale Dancer, Dancer, Apple Farmer on Stilts, Artisan 1, Young Snow White

Studio(s)

Disney, Marc Platt Productions

Distributor(s)

Disney

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The latest live-action remake from Disney, Snow White has been the center of controversy on the internet for what feels like forever, but now that the film is out, it is actually a pretty decent movie. Snow White updates some of the original’s story beats while trying to keep that same cozy magic that was present in the beloved animated film. Not being an essential shot-for-shot remake is one of the best aspects of it, as well.

Most of the praise for Snow White is directed towards Rachel Zegler as the titular character, proving the internet trolls wrong while also showing that she is talented enough to lead major movies. On the flip side, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen leaves a lot to be desired, but her sometimes baffling performance isn’t enough to completely drag down Snow White. The decision to portray the Seven Dwarfs with CGI was definitely the wrong choice, though.

14

The Lion King (2019)

Directed By Jon Favreau

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The Lion King

PG

Adventure

Drama

Family

ScreenRant logo

6/10

40

6.1/10

Release Date

July 19, 2019

Runtime

118 minutes

Director

Jon Favreau

Writers

Jeff Nathanson

Franchise(s)

The Lion King

Cast

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  • Headshot of James Earl Jones

    James Earl Jones

  • Headshot OF John Kani

    John Kani

Jon Favreau directs this 2019 live-action adaptation of Walt Disney’s popular film, The Lion King. Starring Donald Glover, Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, this release follows young Simba as he grows up to become a mighty lion and take vengeance on his dastardly uncle, Scar.

Budget

260 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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After successfully remaking The Jungle Book using motion capture technology, Director Jon Favreau decided to tackle the much-beloved classic The Lion King using the same techniques. Despite being called “live-action,” all the animals, and even the world they inhabit, are computer generated to look like live-action. That saves a production team from being in dangerous situations with lions and hyenas, but it also still looks real. In doing that, though, what makes The Lion King so amazing as an animated film is lost in translation.

The Lion King is the most financially successful live-action Disney remake, which led to the studio developing a prequel exploring how Mufasa became king, called Mufasa: The Lion King.

The look of the film gives it a National Geographic documentary quality, which allows the audiences to feel for the animals more since they appear to be real. However, this aesthetic, combined with the classic songs, didn’t work for audiences, and the strict adherence to making the film a nearly shot-for-shot remake of the original left many viewers believing it to be a pointless cash grab. The realistic animals also aren’t nearly as expressive as animated animals, meaning the audience has to rely entirely on the voice cast to sell the emotions, which doesn’t always work.

13

Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil (2019)

Directed By Joachim Rønning

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Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

PG

Fantasy

Family

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

5/10

Release Date

October 18, 2019

Runtime

118 Minutes

Director

Joachim Rønning

Writers

Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster

Prequel(s)

Maleficent

Cast

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  • instar53635214-1

    Angelina Jolie

  • Headshot Of Imelda Staunton In The Finale Celebration for

    Imelda Staunton

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a 2019 sequel to Disney’s Maleficent. In the sequel, Maleficent and Aurora deal with complex family ties and begin to grow apart as a new evil presents itself. The film received mixed to negative reviews upon release but did get nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 2020 Academy Awards.

Franchise(s)

Maleficent

Budget

$185 Million

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Pictures, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Pictures

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A sequel to the live-action Maleficent, which gives the backstory to the animated Sleeping Beauty’s villain, the movie brings back Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning in the main roles. It also brings in new cast members, including the delightful Michelle Pfeiffer as the villain, a queen who seeks to rid the kingdom of fairies. While it is beautiful, Maleficient: Mistress of Evil wasn’t as strong as its predecessor.

Jolie and Pfeiffer knock their roles out of the park. As is true of the first movie, Maleficient: Mistress of Evil is gorgeous to look at. The costumes, makeup, and effects create a visual feast for the audience. The story, however, drags, which is why it’s not as good as its predecessor. It’s still ambitious for Disney to explore a villain’s backstory, even if they don’t make her nearly as evil as she should be.

12

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Directed By Tim Burton

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Alice in Wonderland

PG

Family

Fantasy

Adventure

8/10

Release Date

March 3, 2010

Runtime

108 minutes

Director

Tim Burton

Writers

Linda Woolverton

Producers

Chris Lebenzon, Jennifer Todd, Joe Roth, Katterli Frauenfelder, Peter M. Tobyansen, Richard D. Zanuck

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Johnny Depp In The UK premiere of Jeanne Du Barry

    Johnny Depp

    The Mad Hatter

  • Headshot OF Mia Wasikowska

    Mia Wasikowska

    Alice Kingsleigh

Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton, follows 19-year-old Alice as she returns to the fantastical realm she visited in her youth. In this visually rich adaptation, she embarks on a journey to uncover her true destiny amidst a cast of eccentric and memorable characters.

Character(s)

The Mad Hatter, Alice Kingsleigh, The White Queen, The Red Queen, The Knave of Hearts, Tweedledee / Tweedledum, The Caterpillar (voice), The Cheshire Cat (voice), The White Rabbit (voice), The Bloodhound (voice), Charles Kingsleigh, Helen Kingsleigh, Lady Ascot, Lord Ascot, Hamish Ascot, Aunt Imogene, The Jabberwocky (voice), The March Hare (voice), The Dormouse (voice), The Dodo (voice), Tall Flower Faces (voice), Fiona Chattaway, Strange Woman Kisser, Margaret Kingsleigh, Faith Chattaway

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Alice in Wonderland seemed like a perfect match for director Tim Burton, as the story features a female outcast who finds herself in a strange world. However, despite the title, Alice in Wonderland acts as a sequel to the original film instead of a remake and has more in common with Steven Spielberg’s Hook since the story concerns a grown-up Alice returning to Wonderland after a long absence. Still not great by any means, making it a sequel was a solid idea that proved to be the right choice overall.

While in Wonderland, Alice reunites with Tim Burton-versions of the classic characters she once knew, including an eccentric performance from Burton-regular Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. This was at a time when Johnny Depp was a massive box office draw, coming off of the absurdly successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. While critical reviews for the film were mixed to negative, it grossed over a billion dollars at the box office and has become a bit of a cult classic.

11

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

Directed By Barry Jenkins

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Mufasa: The Lion King

PG

Adventure

Family

Animation

ScreenRant logo

7/10

126

8.4/10

Release Date

December 18, 2024

Runtime

118 minutes

Director

Barry Jenkins

Writers

Jeff Nathanson

Producers

Peter M. Tobyansen, Adele Romanski

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Aaron Pierre

    Aaron Pierre

    Mufasa (voice)

  • headshot Of Kelvin Harrison Jr.

    Kelvin Harrison Jr.

    Taka (voice)

Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.

Main Genre

Adventure

Character(s)

Mufasa (voice), Taka (voice), Sarabi (voice), Young Rafiki (voice), Zazu (voice), Kiara (voice), Rafiki (voice), Kiros (voice), Pumbaa (voice), Timon (voice), Eshe (voice), Obasi (voice), Afia (voice), Masego (voice), Mufasa Cub (voice), Simba (voice), Nala (voice), Amara (voice), Akua (voice), Junia (voice), Ajarry (voice), Chigaru (voice), Sarafi (voice), Mosi (voice), Inaki (voice)

Franchise

Disney

Sequel

The Lion King (2019)

Cinematographer

James Laxton

Producer

Mark Ceryak, Adele Romanski

Production Company

Fairview Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures

Distributor(s)

Disney

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Following the immense financial success of The Lion King live-action remake, it only made sense for Disney to want to capitalize on it. Instead of a traditional sequel, though, the studio opted for a prequel that explains how Mufasa became the King of the Pride Lands. Mufasa: The Lion King tells the story of Mufasa as a young cub who is taken in by King Obasi, father of Taka, who audiences better know as Scar. The film has a lot of heart and the exploration of Mufasa and Taka’s friendship-turned-brotherhood-turned adversaries is the best part of it.

Where Disney went right with the film was hiring Barry Jenkins to direct it. Jenkins is one of the strongest filmmakers working today, having directed movies such as If Beale Street Could Talk and the Oscar-winning landmark film, Moonlight. While the strength of Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker elevates Mufasa: The Lion King above its predecessor, it still faces a lot of the same problems, most notably with the photo-realistic VFX taking away a lot of the characters’ emotions, something that might never be solved in Disney remains steadfast in their realism with the franchise.

10

Aladdin (2019)

Directed By Guy Ritchie

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Aladdin

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

Romance

Family

Release Date

May 22, 2019

Runtime

127 minutes

Director

Guy Ritchie

Writers

John August

Producers

Kevin De La Noy, Dan Lin

Cast

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Aladdin is a live-action adaptation directed by Guy Ritchie. The film follows a street urchin who discovers a magical lamp containing a genie, portrayed by Will Smith. As Aladdin embarks on an adventure, he must confront the ambitions of a power-seeking Grand Vizier, played by Marwan Kenzari.

Character(s)

Genie / Mariner, Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, Sultan, Dalia, Prince Anders, Hakim, Omar, Lian, Omi, Jamal, Guard #1, Guard #2, Guard #3, Matron, School Girl, Busybody Woman, Beguiling Woman, Mounted Palace Guard

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A live-action remake of Aladdin made the most sense since it combines music with action/adventure and fantasy. Plus, today’s special effects can create everything and more than filmmakers did with animation back in 1992. That means there are some superbly shot musical sequences in the movie and some creative use of special effects, particularly when it comes to numbers like “Prince Ali” and the new “Speechless.” Plus, Guy Ritchie brings a lot of his directorial flair to the movie.

Ariel, Cruella and Jasmine

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Many worried that Robin Williams’ performance would be too difficult to replicate, let alone top, but Will Smith did a great job as the Genie. It might not have completely lived up to the original animated film, but Aladdin ranks among some of Disney’s best live-action movies thanks to great chemistry from its cast and an attempt to update Jasmine’s (Naomi Scott) storyline beyond simply her attachment to Aladdin (Mena Moussad).

9

Maleficent (2014)

Directed By Robert Stromberg

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Maleficent

PG

Adventure

Fantasy

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4/10

6.5/10

Release Date

May 30, 2014

Runtime

1h 37m

Director

Robert Stromberg

Writers

John Lee Hancock, Linda Woolverton

Sequel(s)

Maleficent 2

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Sam Riley

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    Sharlto Copley

A live-action reimagining of the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent follows the titular fairy witch (Angelina Jolie) in a dark fantasy origin story. After falling in love with a human, Maleficent is betrayed when he steals her wings. Swearing revenge, she curses his infant daughter, Princess Aurora, leading to a retelling of the beloved fairytale from an alternate perspective. 

Franchise(s)

Maleficent

Budget

180 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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For Disney’s live-action adaptation of their classic film, Sleeping Beauty, they took a different approach and decided to make the movie from the perspective of arguably one of Disney’s most famous villains, Maleficent. Angelina Jolie is the star of the show in Maleficent, and the lore added to the world of Sleeping Beauty makes the beloved animated classic even better, which should be the aim of all Disney live-action remakes.

The film acts as a prequel to Sleeping Beauty as well as a remake, as it chronicles Maleficent’s tragic turn to evil. Perfectly cast, Angelina Jolie portrays the title character brilliantly and the film’s costumes and production design are beautifully crafted. Despite criticism aimed at the film’s screenplay, the movie was a huge box-office hit and was successful enough to earn a sequel. It is also one of the most interesting Disney live-action remakes.

8

Christopher Robin (2016)

Directed By Marc Forster

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Christopher Robin

PG

Fantasy

Adventure

Animation

Comedy

Family

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8/10

8/10

Release Date

August 2, 2018

Runtime

104 minutes

Director

Marc Forster

Writers

Alex Ross Perry, Tom McCarthy, Allison Schroeder, Greg Brooker, Mark Steven Johnson, A.A. Milne

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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    Nick Mohammed

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    Hayley Atwell

Disney’s Christopher Robin is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s interpretation of A.A. Milne’s character. The movie follows Christopher Robin, a young man who loved embarking on adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with a band of spirited and lovable stuffed animals who have grown up and lost their way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy still inside.

Budget

$65-70 million

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Pictures

Distributor(s)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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Christopher Robin was a remake/sequel of the Winnie the Pooh franchise. In a very similar plot to Hook, Christopher Robin is a workaholic adult who requires the adventures of his childhood friends to be able to find joy in life again. It’s a poignant look at a beloved franchise, and has a lot to say about growing up and leaving behind childhood. Christopher Robin is able to make Hundred Acre Wood feel like home.

It’s a poignant look at a beloved franchise, and has a lot to say about growing up and leaving behind childhood.

The film brings out the nostalgia that Disney remakes are all about, as well as providing audiences with more heartbreaking and deep sayings from Pooh. While the plot is fairly derivative, the performance of Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin was extremely well done. The overall feel, designs, and atmosphere of the film was spot on, and it’s touching story is one of the better ones among Disney’s live-action remakes.

7

Pete’s Dragon (2016)

Directed By David Lowery

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Pete’s Dragon

PG

Drama

Fantasy

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

8/10

Release Date

August 12, 2016

Runtime

103minutes

Director

David Lowery

Writers

David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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    Wes Bentley

Pete’s Dragon is an action-adventure fantasy movie that takes the classic Disney film and reimagines it for a new era. The story follows young orphan Pete and his best friend Elliot, a massive green dragon who lives in a forest in the Pacific Northwest. When a forest ranger’s daughter happens upon the young Pete, she discovers the stories surrounding the dragon line up with recent incidents, leading her to search for the truth while trying to find Pete’s origins. 

Budget

$65 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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The 1977 film Pete’s Dragon blended a live-action environment with an animated dragon to give the best of both worlds. Now that special effects have advanced enough to make dragons like those in Game of Thrones feel real, it only made sense to try to bring Pete’s Dragon fully into Disney live-action. Along with eliminating the animated elements, the adaptation removed the musical elements of the original, which could have been a mistake since Disney’s most beloved properties are known for their musical numbers, but it works perfectly.

This is one of the most well-done Disney live-action remakes, though the film may not be as recognizable and nostalgia-inducing as the princess films or hold the attention of very young children in the audience as well. The story is a little more coherent than the original while keeping the sweet elements that made the 1977 version so great. It’s actually the most underrated live-action Disney remake despite being one of the best.

6

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Directed By Bill Condon

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Beauty and the Beast

PG

Romance

Fantasy

Musical

ScreenRant logo

7/10

7.1/10

Release Date

March 17, 2017

Runtime

129 minutes

Director

Bill Condon

Writers

Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos

Prequel(s)

Beauty and the Beast

Cast

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    Emma Watson

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    Ian McKellen

Franchise(s)

Disney

Studio

Walt Disney Studios

Budget

$160–255 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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After being nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and having enormous success as a Broadway show, a Beauty and the Beast Disney live-action remake was highly sought after, despite having big shoes to fill. The movie is a straightforward adaptation of the original film with some work done to make Belle a stronger female character and Gaston a more complex villain. It vividly brings the animated classic to life and captures the magic that made it so great.

The film features audiences’ favorite songs and several great new ones. However, the vocal cast pales in comparison to the original’s accomplished Broadway performers. While actors like Emma Watson as Belle and Ewan McGregor as Lumiere are strong in their parts, their singing talents aren’t up to par, with Luke Evans’ Gaston being the standout. Despite the criticism, audiences enjoyed it, and it was incredibly successful at the box office. It’s just hard to live up to the landmark animated film.

5

Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)

Directed By David Lowery

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Peter Pan & Wendy

PG

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

6/10

Release Date

April 28, 2023

Runtime

106 minutes

Director

David Lowery

Writers

David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks

Franchise(s)

Disney

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Alexander Molony

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Ever Anderson

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Pictures, Whitaker Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Disney+

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Because the copyright to J. M. Barrie’s story of Peter Pan isn’t held by Disney, there have been many adaptations of Peter Pan in both animation and live-action. This version combines Barrie’s original story with the Disney animated version to create a more grounded take on the characters, but one that still uses pixie dust to fly. Peter Pan & Wendy increases the diversity of its cast (some of the Lost Boys are girls and Tinkerbell is played by a woman of color, Yara Shahidi) and doesn’t give in to racist stereotypes with characters like Tiger Lilly.

It largely succeeds in those changes while still holding on to the magic of the original with a little boy (Alexander Molony) who never wants to grow up playing pretend on an island where he can converse with fairies and battle pirates. Wendy (Ever Anderson) is given more to do here, just as she originally is in the novel as well, making her an equal protagonist to Peter, and making Peter Pan & Wendy one of the best live-action Disney adaptations.

4

Cruella (2021)

Directed By Craig Gillespie

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Cruella

PG-13

Adventure

Comedy

Crime

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

5.5/10

Release Date

May 28, 2021

Runtime

2h 14m

Director

Craig Gillespie

Writers

Dana Fox, Tony McNamara, Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel, Steve Zissis, Dodie Smith

Cast

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    Joel Fry

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    Emma Stone

Budget

100–200 million

Studio(s)

Disney

Distributor(s)

Disney

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Cruella has been one of the best-received Disney live-action movies, which is shocking given how irredeemable the character of Cruella de Vil seems to be. As both a prequel to and remake of 101 Dalmatians, this had the opportunity to explore how someone could be so far gone as to make their driving motivation the slaughter of puppies. Because there can be no reasonable explanation, the film veered into the absurd, with murderous Dalmatians, vibrant fashion shows, and soap opera plot twists.

While the lead character can hardly be compared to the villain she is supposed to become, the film is unquestionably enjoyable, with lead actresses Emma Stone and Emma Thompson captivating audiences with their performances. Cruella proves that sometimes the best live-action adaptation requires embracing the camp and abandoning what doesn’t fit. The movie is also visually stunning when it comes to costumes and makeup, winning Best Costume Design at the Academy Awards. Disney plans on developing a sequel.