Here Is My 1000% Correct Ranking Of The Disney Live-Action Remakes
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We are living in the golden age of remakes, and nobody has dug deeper into its own archives than Disney, which has pumped out a seemingly never-ending collection of live-action versions of their most beloved animated movies. Some have been good. Others, not so much.
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The latest classic to get the remake treatment is Pinocchio, with Robert Zemeckis reimagining the story of a puppet who becomes a real boy through the power of wishing upon a star. So, how does it hold up to the rest of the Disney remakes? I decided to find out by providing my official and definitive ranking of every live-action Disney remake, not including prequels (apologies to Cruella) and loose origin stories (better luck next time, Christopher Robin).
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12.Lady and the Tramp (2019)
Let's be honest: Lady and the Tramp is never really mentioned among the great Disney films. And for good reason, as it is a perfectly adequate story of two dogs from different worlds falling for each other. So, it should come as no surprise that this remake does not elevate that material in any way. Along with being a remake of perhaps the most forgettable animated Disney movie, it also has cringe-worthy visual effects, making the dogs seem creepy instead of lovable. The iconic spaghetti scene is a perfect example, as the sweet and romantic sequence in the original is now an awkward and slightly off-putting display of CGI dogs canoodling.
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11.Mulan (2020)
Mulan is my personal favorite of the Disney animated classics, and when I heard it was getting the live-action treatment, I was extremely excited. Unfortunately, this version of Mulan feels like a massive waste of potential; what should be a funny and heartfelt adventure with some great tunes and badass action is instead a mostly dull slog. The best part of this remake is the cast, with Liu Yifei perfectly cast in the titular role, but the script and unimaginative directing leaves the whole thing lacking. And let's not even get into the fact that Mushu, the GOAT Disney sidekick, is nowhere to be found.
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10.Pinocchio (2022)
The latest Disney live-action remake of their animated classics is Pinocchio, the iconic tale of a puppet who is brought to life and then navigates existential angst (relatable) with some help from a talking cricket (less relatable). Per usual, Disney has brought in a murderer’s row of names to headline the film, most notably getting Mayor of Hollywood Tom Hanks to play Geppetto, Pinocchio’s father figure/creator. Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis have a dynamite track record, but this is the duo's first real misfire, as the new movie doesn't add much to the story other than some spiffy visuals and a solid but not spectacular performance from Hanks.
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9.Dumbo (2019)
After making Disney boatloads of money with his Alice franchise, Tim Burton returned to the remake well with Dumbo. This was not as successful of an attempt, mostly due to the fact that the original movie has a paper-thin plot and a protagonist who doesn't talk at all. Burton tries to find the tragedy in this tale, but his choice of a drab visual pallet makes the entire thing feel like mostly a bummer. Danny DeVito showing up in a supporting role is always a delight, but beyond that, the only real appeal is that it is admittedly pretty rad getting to watch an elephant fly around.
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8.The Lion King (2019)
More than any other film on this list, this movie raised the question of whether or not these remakes justify their own existence. This is an almost shot-for-shot retread of a story that most of us have watched so many times, it's etched into our brains forever, so the new version didn't bring much to the table. And given how much the emotion fuels this story, seeing these computer-rendered creatures sing about feeling the love tonight and hakuna matata-ing felt a bit lifeless. Even with a stacked cast that includes Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, and Billy Eichner, this is a case of the original simply being too legendary and beloved to be dethroned.
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7.Pete's Dragon (2016)
If there is one original on this list you haven't seen, I am betting it's Pete's Dragon, which is an underrated and under-watched member of the Disney animated canon. But that lack of notoriety actually worked to the remake's advantage, as it allowed this update to feel fresh and exciting instead of an uninspired retread of something already loved by generations of kids and adults alike. Pete's Dragon manages to hold on to the sweet and gentle core of the original film while bringing Elliot the dragon to life in a way that never seemed possible decades ago. The result is a totally satisfying film that the whole family can enjoy.
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6.Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Disney had dabbled with remakes, but Beauty and the Beast was the first time it really tried out one of its most cherished and, many would say, untouchable films. And, for the most part, it worked. Some people criticize this movie, and even though I don't think the complaints are unwarranted, I think what works about this tale as old as time far outweighs what doesn't quite land. Yes, it never quite manages to transcend the original, but Beauty and the Beast is still a triumphant remake that was a massive hit with audiences, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2017.
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5.Alice in Wonderland (2010)
It's a looser remake than most of the entries on this list, as Burton is taking much inspiration from Lewis Carroll's original story, as well as sprinkling in some of his own zaniness for good measure. But most of the major selling points of the original (the Red Queen, the tardy white rabbit, and of course, the Mad Hatter) are here, and Burton creates a visual feast that is hard to resist. Is it a case of style over substance? Perhaps, but when the style is this good, who's really going to complain. This was the remake that really kickstarted the trend, as Alice in Wonderland earned over $1 billion at the global box office and made Disney realize they could do this with all of their beloved classics.
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4.101 Dalmatians (1996)
The one that accidentally started it all (except not really because it would be almost 15 years before another one was made), 101 Dalmatians has the spirit and energy that more of these remakes could use. Is it perfect? Not by any means, but it is a fun romp with a killer cast, including Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, and Hugh Laurie all doing great work. Of course, the real MVP is Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil, as she is clearly having an absolute blast getting to play the aspiring dog murderer, which helps take the movie to a whole new level.
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3.Cinderella (2015)
This version of Cinderella is so incredibly charming in its sincerity, as it doesn't attempt to add any sort of postmodern lens on the classic story. Instead, the movie proudly wears its heart on its sleeve, delivering a magical love story and a simple but potent message to "have courage and be kind." A huge part of what makes it work is the cast, as Lily James is subtly perfect in the role of the downtrodden yet hopeful Cinderella, and Helena Bonham Carter brings some wonderfully wacky energy as the Fairy Godmother who helps Cinderella's dreams come true with a bit of Bibbidi-Bobbadi-Boo.
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2.Aladdin (2019)
Remaking movies that people are so familiar with can be a tricky proposition, as you don't want to deliver a note-for-note version, but any new choices could end up being criticized or despised as killing the childhoods of a bunch of 30-somethings. None of the remakes walk that line as well as Aladdin, which stays close enough to the original while also making a few smart choices to make it feel distinct and fresh rather than a shameless cash grab. Most notably, Smith makes the wise decision to not emulate Robin Williams' unforgettable performance and makes the Genie entirely his own, to great effect.
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1.The Jungle Book (2016)
For the most part, even the best of the live-action remakes of classic, animated Disney movies have failed to recapture the magic of the original. But The Jungle Book is the exception that arguably proves the rule, as it actually manages to improve upon the original. While the remake keeps many of the original characters and even some of the songs from the 1967 animated film, it also expands on the plot and dives deeper into the characters. On a visual level, the film is simply stunning to look at, as director Jon Favreau brilliantly utilized CGI to bring Mowgli's jungle friends to life. The voice cast is also perfect, with Bill Murray bringing his dry charm to the role of Baloo, and Idris Elba making Shere Khan straight-up frightening.
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