(Photo by Disney /Courtesy Everett Collection)
All 18 Disney Live-Action Remakes Ranked
Ever since Disney’s $200 million psychedelic experiment Alice in Wonderland yielded a $1 billion return, the studio has been on the live-action remake train, adapting their classic cartoons for new generations to come.
We’ve seen critical hits (Cinderella), box office bonanzas (The Jungle Book), and even a dud or two according to the Tomatometer (Dumbo). For the completionist’s sake, we’re also including sequels like 102 Dalmatians in this list, and well as movies whose stories haven’t necessarily been told before, but which re-purpose old animated characters, like Christopher Robin.
We’re also including a few remakes from the 1990s which predate the current pile-on. In 2019 alone, there were five releases: Dumbo, Aladdin, The Lion King, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Lady and the Tramp. And with Cruella now in theaters and on Disney+ (with Premiere Access), we’re taking a look back on every Disney live-action remake ranked by Tomatometer!
#18
Adjusted Score: 38.094%
Critics Consensus: Alice Through the Looking Glass is just as visually impressive as its predecessor, but that isn't enough to cover for an underwhelming story that fails to live up to its classic characters.
Synopsis: In Disney's "Alice Through the Looking Glass," an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll's beloved stories,...
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#17
Adjusted Score: 33.783%
Critics Consensus: This sequel to the live-action 101 Dalmatians is simply more of the same. Critics say it also drags in parts, potentially boring children, and that it's too violent for a G-rated movie.
Synopsis: In this all new tale, Cruella De Vil is released from prison on good behavior swearing that she will have...
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#16
Adjusted Score: 49.709%
Critics Consensus: While it's far from cursed, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil too rarely supports its impressive cast and visuals with enough magical storytelling to justify its existence.
Synopsis: In Disney's "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil," a sequel to the 2014 global box office hit, Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora...
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#15
Adjusted Score: 42.483%
Critics Consensus: Neat performance from Glenn Close aside, 101 Dalmatians is a bland, pointless remake.
Synopsis: Cruella De Vil dognaps all of the Dalmatian puppies in London and Pongo leads a heroic cast of animal characters...
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#14
Adjusted Score: 61.852%
Critics Consensus: Dumbo is held partly aloft by Tim Burton's visual flair, but a crowded canvas and overstretched story leave this live-action remake more workmanlike than wondrous.
Synopsis: From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure "Dumbo" expands on the beloved classic story where...
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#13
Adjusted Score: 59.664%
Critics Consensus: Tim Burton's Alice sacrifices the book's minimal narrative coherence -- and much of its heart -- but it's an undeniable visual treat.
Synopsis: Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns...
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#12
Adjusted Score: 70.699%
Critics Consensus: While it can take pride in its visual achievements,The Lion King is a by-the-numbers retelling that lacks the energy and heart that made the original so beloved--though for some fans that may just be enough.
Synopsis: From Disney Live Action, director Jon Favreau's all-new "The Lion King" journeys to the African savanna where a future king...
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#11
Adjusted Score: 65.003%
Critics Consensus: Angelina Jolie's magnetic performance outshines Maleficent's dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.
Synopsis: "Maleficent" explores the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the classic "Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her...
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#10
Adjusted Score: 73.403%
Critics Consensus: Aladdin retells its classic source material's story with sufficient spectacle and skill, even if it never approaches the dazzling splendor of the animated original.
Synopsis: A street rat frees a genie from a lamp, granting all of his wishes and transforming himself into a charming...
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#9
Adjusted Score: 67.122%
Critics Consensus: Lady and the Tramp's cute dogs and likable cast work well enough, but the live-action update lacks some of the magic that made the original 1955 film such a delight.
Synopsis: In Disney+'s "Lady and the Tramp," a timeless retelling of the 1955 animated classic, a pampered house dog and a...
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#8
Adjusted Score: 87.295%
Critics Consensus: With an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.
Synopsis: Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" is a live-action re-telling of the studio's animated classic which refashions the classic characters from...
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#7
Adjusted Score: 83.647%
Critics Consensus: Christopher Robin may not equal A.A. Milne's stories -- or their animated Disney adaptations -- but it should prove sweet enough for audiences seeking a little childhood magic.
Synopsis: In the heatwarming live action adventure "Disney's Christopher Robin," the young boy who loved embarking on adventures in the Hundred...
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#6
Adjusted Score: 86.416%
Critics Consensus: It could have told its classic story with greater depth, but the live-action Mulan is a visual marvel that serves as a stirring update to its animated predecessor.
Synopsis: When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to...
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#5
Adjusted Score: 89.151%
Critics Consensus: Cruella can't quite answer the question of why its title character needed an origin story, but this dazzling visual feast is awfully fun to watch whenever its leading ladies lock horns.
Synopsis: Academy Award (R) winner Emma Stone ("La La Land") stars in Disney's "Cruella," an all-new live-action feature film about the...
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Directed By:
#4
Adjusted Score: 82.128%
Critics Consensus: Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book may not hew as closely to the book as its title suggests, but it still offers an entertaining live-action take on a story best known in animated form.
Synopsis: This Disney live-action film contains elements of action, adventure, a nature film, and romance. It tells the story of Mowgli,...
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#3
Adjusted Score: 92.585%
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella proves Disney hasn't lost any of its old-fashioned magic.
Synopsis: Cate Blanchett stars in this new vision of the Cinderella tale from director Kenneth Branagh and the screenwriting team of...
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#2
Adjusted Score: 97.411%
Critics Consensus: Pete's Dragon continues Disney's current live-action winning streak with an update that gives the original a visual overhaul without overwhelming its sweet, soulful charm.
Synopsis: A reimagining of Disney's cherished family film, "Pete's Dragon" is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his...
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#1
Adjusted Score: 106.867%
Critics Consensus: As lovely to behold as it is engrossing to watch, The Jungle Book is the rare remake that actually improves upon its predecessors -- all while setting a new standard for CGI.
Synopsis: Mowgli, a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when...
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