This is the latest big-budgeted reimagining of a Disney classic in a recent surge that’s included hits like The Lion King, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Several more live-action updates, including Hercules and The Little Mermaid, are to follow. We’ve gone back to rank all 15 live-action Disney remakes. For this list, we’ve left out sequels to remakes, as well as 1994’s The Jungle Book, an action thriller that echoes little from the work of Rudyard Kipling. In ascending order, here is our ranking of all 15 Disney live-action remakes, including Pinocchio.
15. Pinocchio (2022)
Save for the affably punk outlier Cruella, the House of Mouse’s modern wave of live-action remakes ran out of steam some time ago. At 112 minutes that feels at least twice its length, flat-out uncomfortable to endure, misguided Pinocchio is a new low, a shoo-in for Razzie attention. Tom Hanks appears lost at sea long before the whale appears, thanks to a script so bloated and dubious the movie feels improvised. The motion capture effects are disturbing, and numerous side plots are cringe-worthy, eliminating any through-line that might have been there. One of the most touching stories ever told has had its heart removed. The best part: Perhaps the only element that feels untouched by cynicism is a bright performance from young Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, as Pinocchio.
14. Dumbo (2019)
Especially when you factor in its stellar A-list cast and prolific director (Tim Burton), Dumbo is a missed opportunity, where joy is in shockingly scarce supply. The 1941 original had dark, scary elements, but this picture is all but an outright downer. The most common criticism these Disney remakes face—the most common criticism of all remakes, in fact—is did the thing really need to be remade? With Dumbo, it’s not just that the story didn’t need to be retold; it doesn’t feel like anyone behind the scenes is having fun retelling it. Even the direction of Burton—historically a champion of the offbeat and unusual—is surprisingly dim and vanilla. At least the crudely racist Jim Crow character got the ax here. Disney has also announced they’ll be removing the crows from the original when it’s made available on their forthcoming streaming service, Disney+. It’s always a controversial decision to alter a well-known text, but in this case it’s the right one. The best part: In a picture that’s desperately in need of spark, the flying-elephant sequences thankfully do inspire some awe. The ever-magnetic Eva Green stands out as trapeze artist Colette Marchant.
13. The Lion King (2019)
There’s some debate as to whether or not the Lion King remake, a CGI creation, can be called live-action. There’s no denying the state-of-the-art effects look like real life, but that doesn’t serve the storytelling in the long run. What’s missing here is anthropomorphic touches like wide-open, sympathetic “Disney eyes” that made us connect emotionally with the classic cartoons in the first place, staples of Walt Disney’s undeniable genius. What can be said about The Lion King is that it makes the Aladdin remake (a box-office success and pretty well-liked by audiences) look even better. That movie had two lovely, energetic and winning performances by Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott, who gave us something to get invested in and root for. Likewise, we saw all the action of the stellar Jungle Book remake through the eyes of a human boy. That was the emotional hook. The Lion King needed more of a human touch, more of the offbeat personality that made the original stand out. The best part: Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver is such a boundlessly enthusiastic and delightful performer that naturally, he gets a few big laughs as nosy hornbill Zazu.
12. Christopher Robin (2018)
Even an admirably committed performance from Ewan McGregorand an unexpected, refreshing tone of wistful melancholy aren’t enough to fully deliver this half-hearted stab at bringing one of the most beloved of all fiction characters back to life on the big screen. The Oscar-nominated effects are remarkable—without the annoyance of 3D, you can practically feel these photorealistic cloth toys through the screen. The tone is another matter, though: Christopher Robin is too gloomy to thrill many kids, too lightweight to grip adults. Oddly enough, Christopher Robin is ultimately outshined by a 2017 movie with similar subject matter, Fox’s Goodbye Christopher Robin. Some criticized that film for its overt melodrama, but at least it stirs up some big emotions. The best part: Voice actor Jim Cummings enchants, returning to the roles of Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger.
11. Mulan (2020)
File this under missed opportunity. Niko Caro’s handsomely mounted but confused quasi-wuxia film is overlong, lacking the personality of the cartoon. The best part of the original (Eddie Murphy’s wisecracking dragon Mushu) is fully nixed, allegedly in the name of realism. But then there’s a lady who transforms into a hawk. Seriously, WTF? The best part: The production design is rapturous mostly, pure wuxia. Too bad the movie seems to have no idea what the hell it wants to be.
10. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
The 1991 cartoon, which itself borrowed much from the 1946 French classic, is a masterpiece, the crown jewel of the late-20th-century “Disney Renaissance.” This remake—which practically does not deviate from the original aside from padding out the runtime three quarters of an hour—was a monster hit, grossing over $1 billion. It struck box-office gold thanks to nostalgia and good marketing—but over time, its popularity won’t match that of the timeless original. The tone here is pure, overdressed camp—lightyears removed from the touching, brooding romance and Gothic horror of the 1991 picture. And the musical numbers are a bust, undermining one of the great musical scores of the past 50 years. With blue lighting and a seated human performer, “Be Our Guest” (a true showstopper in the cartoon), bears an uncanny resemblance to a safety demonstration aboard a Virgin America flight. The best part: Emma Watson is quite good here. Like, really good. Perfect, even. Who else could have embodied Belle’s beauty, bookishness and brains quite like her? And any gripes about her singing in the picture have more to do with questionable mixing than the actress’s talents.
9. The Lady and the Tramp (2019)
Justin Theroux and Tessa Thompson are undeniably charming voicing real-life, CGI-enhanced pooches in love, but the idiosyncratic magic of the 1955 original is pretty much vanished from a movie that’s just sweet and simple enough to not be christened a “cash grab,” but yeah. It’s just going through the motions. Not much in the way of inspiration at all. The best part: On the bright side, cute dogs are cute. And there’s plenty of that.
8. Aladdin (2019)
Hitting nearly identical story beats while sorely missing the creative freedom of a cartoon, Aladdin is perhaps a passable way to kill two hours, but it’s certainly no match for the original, and it never fully justifies its existence. Nothing was ever going to match Robin Williams’s indelible Genie, but Will Smith is fine, frequently funny in the role (though the motion-capture effects are a permanent landmark in the Uncanny Valley). Aladdin is at its best when it’s a shaggy comedy, honoring something in the spirit of the classic. Jafar’s wickedness always paled in comparison to truly vile antagonists like Snow White’s stepmother and Ursula the Sea Witch, but the way he’s portrayed here is just too soft. He comes off less like a villain and more like Aladdin’s comically jealous neighbor. He is never menacing, not even when he’s enhanced with special effects near the end. On the bright side, much of this picture’s enormous, nearly $200-million budget is clearly there on screen, with the costumes of Michael Wilkinson and production design of Gemma Jackson standing out. It’s impossible to dismiss a movie when there’s such a staggering amount of good work by artists and craftsmen on-screen. The best part: With striking athleticism, comic chops and a beautiful singing voice, 27-year-old Canadian actor Mena Massoud bullseyes the title role—and Naomi Scott is a downright captivating Princess Jasmine. They have chemistry, too—and it all makes one wish the movie around them felt less mechanical, the script less wooden.
7. 101 Dalmations (1996)
1961’s animated 101 Dalmations was one of Disney’s biggest hits ever. Taking inflation into account, it’s the twelfth highest-grossing movie in U.S. history. The remake was a big commercial hit as well. But the big, critical problem with the movie is that with unspeaking real-life dogs instead of animated ones—adorable as they are—they’re never humanized the way they were the first time ‘round; this isn’t their story. The remake has one major strength in its favor, though: a characteristically scenery-chewing Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. In a role that earned her a nomination for a Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) Golden Globe, she’s just splendid, nailing just the right balance of funny/scary/psycho. A live-action sequel followed in 2000. Cruella, a live-action origin story, has been announced for a December 2020 release, with Emma Stone in the title role. The best part: It’s Close. It’s definitely Close.
6. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Though it doesn’t lack charm or invention, Tim Burton’s commercial smash epitomizes the overblown modern blockbuster. Catching up with Alice (Mia Wasikowka) a few years after her first tumble down the rabbit hole, the often arresting Alice in Wonderland would have been a much better movie if its scope was more focused, and if it shaved off about 20 minutes of its running time—namely the epic battle at the end that goes on forever and only makes limited sense. The thing just flies off the rails. Alice in Wonderland won Oscars for its costumes and art direction, and was nominated for Best Visual Effects. It grossed a Jabberwocky-sized $1.02 billion, becoming the fifth highest-grossing movie ever at the time of its release. The best part: With just the right balance of whimsy, spectacle and macabre (Wonderland has always been a pretty grotesque place), Burton’s direction is right on the money… until the third act balloons out of control.
5. Maleficent (2014)
Released in 1959, Disney’s ultra-widescreen Sleeping Beauty is the most breathtakingly beautiful and elegantly, intricately drawn of Walt Disney’s animated classics. See it on a huge screen and you will never forget it. The catch? It’s thin on plot and character. Maleficent expands and twists the plot around to give the horned fairy her fair day in court, with mixed-to-positive results. The special effects are lavishly-budgeted and fairly impressive, but there’s nothing here to match the grandeur of the original’s Battle With the Forces of Evil—probably the most thrilling and operatic hand-drawn action sequence in cinema. The best part: Angelina Jolieis in top form here, and few movie stars alive today can match her formidable presence when she’s firing on all cylinders. The bluntly metaphoric scene where her wings are stripped from her is surprisingly brutal and disturbing. Her heart’s in this role.
4. Pete’s Dragon (2016)
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and A Ghost Story director David Lowery was such an inspired choice to helm this tale about the bond between human and animal, a low-key drama that improves greatly upon the flashy 1977 musical. Expensive and CGI-infused though it is, one of Pete’s Dragon’s great strengths is its subtlety and relative minimalism. Lowery doesn’t lose track of the story’s emotional core. This is a sad, sometimes even bitter film about abandonment and loss. For the most part, it works really well. The best part: The creature design is brilliant, even strategic. A far cry from Maleficent’s infamous, scaly and frightening fire-breathing alter-ego, the dragon here is a 70-foot fuzzball. A green puppy-dog with wings. Best of luck not having your heartstrings yanked around.
3. Cruella (2021)
I, Tonya helmer Gillespie delivers a summer treat as unexpected as it is delicious: a comic crime saga that’s indeed edgy and even violent, mostly safe for families. The caper showcases brilliant work from its leads, playing warring fashionistas. Frankly, everything works, the only minor annoyance is obligatory sequel setup. Cruella is smashing entertainment. Most surprisingly, it’s really good, innovative, wild filmmaking (specials props to the smoky, exquisite photography and killer retro soundtrack). The best part: Splendid as the performances are (and they really are)], the costumes by Mad Max: Fury Road Oscar winner Jenny Beavan (Stone has 47 changes in the film) are MVP here. Garments haven’t told a story like this since—well, another picture starring Stone, The Favourite.
2. Cinderella (2015)
This is the story on this list that’s been told and retold, over and over, the most. But because of the strength and appeal of the source material—and because Sir Kenneth Branagh was the perfect choice to bring it to life—Cinderella casts an irresistible spell. Tremendously performed—from a star-making turn by Lily James to an inspired Cate Blanchett as Ella’s wicked stepmother—the visually gobsmacking Cinderella feels fresh and spontaneous in the hands of one of the most respected names in modern theater and film. It’s a bit corny, too—but this likely won’t matter to younger viewers, and for many adults that just adds to the charm. This touching, witty and vibrant family movie stands on its own. The best part: Renowned designer Sandy Powell’s stunning, Oscar-nominated costumes are to die for, visual storytelling in their own right. Highly re-watchable Cinderella is a wonderful title to own on home video. It’s available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, and the detailing on the gowns here is reason enough to justify an upgrade.
1. The Jungle Book (2016)
This electrifying and immersive entertainment improved upon a well-regarded 1967 cartoon and wowed audiences worldwide—thanks to wondrous, ambitious and affectionate direction by Jon Favreau. The Iron Man and Chef helmer takes the time to make Mowgli’s story riveting, and the key to everything falling into place here is his work with confident, wide-eyed young performer Neel Sethi. The Jungle Book was critically acclaimed upon release, and exceeded box-office expectations with over $966 million worldwide. Following the success of 2015’s Cinderella, this is the moment Disney’s remake initiative kicked into high-gear. The best part: The Academy Award-winning effects are a Hollywood milestone. Twenty years ago, it was revolutionary for Star Wars:The Phantom Menace to feature one fully CGI character (the much-maligned Jar Jar Binks) amidst human actors. In 2016, it was revolutionary to see a human boy fully enveloped in photorealistic CGI and practical sets. Sometimes, special effects take the place of storytelling and hinder movies. In select, inspired circumstances, special effects can be the story. And that is peak Disney. Rousing, classical narratives told with cutting-edge techniques is Disney magic. Living for Disney Plus? These are our favorite animated movies–plus all the animated movies–on Disney Plus.
