Since 1994, Disney has been adapting some of their classic animated films into a live-action story. Although, the early films achieved some success, it wasn’t until 2010 when the release of a live-action “Alice in Wonderland” earned over $1 billion dollars – becoming the second highest grossing film of the year.
The film’s success would launch a new trend for the Disney studio, which would see dozens of live-action remakes, reimaginings and continuations of the most beloved Walt Disney Animated films with varying success. Many of these films dominated the box office and became critical hits. Others would flounder under the pressure and expectations set by the original classics. With nearly 20 more films scheduled to be released in the coming years, it’s clear this isn’t a trend Disney plans to stop anytime soon.
With that, Frozen Mouse Fever is taking the plunge and counting the worst and best of Disney live-action adaptations. Please note this list does not include “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book” as it’s not on Disney+ as well as reimaginings of films that aren’t under the Walt Disney Animation Studios umbrella such as “Mary Poppins Returns” or “Pete’s Dragon”
Now let’s get down to business!
22. Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
This sequel to its smash hit predecessor is equally colourful and visually appealing, but that’s about the only aspect of “Alice in Wonderland” it measures up to. It completely strips away everything that made the classic Lewis Carroll stories special, and instead smashes together a bunch of nonsensical scenes without any sensical plot given to make anyone care, despite featuring such beloved characters.
21. 102 Dalmatians (2000)
While Glenn Close continues to dazzle as Cruella De Vil in this live-action sequel, and the dogs are as cute as ever – “102 Dalmatians” is basically just more of the same. There are very few plot elements that differentiate this sequel from the original or the live-action remake, which makes it hard to reason its need to exist in the first place. Oh right, it has Dalmatian puppies that’s why.
20. Pinocchio (2022)
“Pinocchio” is a decent movie that includes an admirable performance by Tom Hanks as Geppetto and some fun nods to Disney lore sprinkled throughout the film. The detail put into creating this world of Pinocchio’s village is incredibly imaginative and rich, but it does not save the film from a jumbled plot, and attempts to make itself stand out from the original story in such unnecessary ways such as Pinocchio being a carbon copy of Geppetto’s’ dead son and those donkey transformations that equal nightmare fuel.
19. Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
Even with strong performances from Jude Law as Captain Hook and Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily, there is a certain magic lacking in this Pan story. Perhaps it’s because this is one of many adaptations already in existence, “Peter Pan & Wendy” adheres too closely to the original film without managing to capture any of what made it special. It’s a fine film that has some fun moments, and a beautiful Neverland setting, but drags on a little too long without any real elements that make it stand out.
18. Dumbo (2019)
Let’s get this out of the way – Dumbo is such an adorable elephant that it’s easy to declare this the best movie of all time because of that alone. Also, Danny Devito embodies the Ringmaster character excellently and adds a sense of levity to what sometimes feels like a very heavy film. With that being said, Tim Burton somehow manages to make an already sad story even more dark and depressing and drags it along for way too long that it’s hard not to lose interest one-third of the way through.
17. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Angelina Jolie once again completely immerses herself into this diverse character and delivers a performance that’s equally chilling, compelling and strangely humourous. Unlike a lot of these live-action reimagining sequels, it’s understandable why another movie was made for this character as there were so many more layers to explore. When Jolie is on the screen you are captivated, but there are too many times when she isn’t the focus and that’s when the film can feel bland and the narrative a bit too thin.
16. Lady and the Tramp (2019)
Once again, let’s make it clear, the dogs from “Lady and the Tramp” are unabashedly cute, and the fact that they are rescue dogs just makes it that much sweeter. This film managed to correct the mistakes (mainly the racist ones) from the original cartoon, while still maintaining the charm of the love story everyone still fawns over. Perhaps it’s the weird animation of the dog’s mouths or the plot taking a little too long to move forward, but “Lady and the Tramp” lacks that same magic captured in the original.
15. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
It’s hard not to be dazzled immediately by the visual beauty of “Alice in Wonderland” within minutes of the opening scene. It only gets more distinctive with the glorious costumes and production design, with sets so grand and alluring. Tim Burton may have sacrificed coherent storytelling, especially in the third act to instead focus on creating the world of Wonderland. With solid performances from Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp, it’s understandable why this movie is so beloved, despite quite a few storytelling hiccups.
14. 101 Dalmatians (1996)
If there is any argument that Glenn Close isn’t a bonafide actress supreme, this movie erases any debate. She embodies Cruella in every sense and manages to standout as the film’s star, despite the hundreds of loveable Dalmatian puppies. The costumes in particular help Close become the real life Cruella and she has such good chemistry with the cast, including the puppies, it helps balance out the unnecessary slap stick comedy that was clearly ripped off from another John Hughes favourite, “Home Alone”.
13. The Lion King (2019)
“The Lion King” is arguably the most by-the-numbers reimagining of any Disney animated film. There are very few differences in terms of storytelling when compared to the animated classic. However, despite being so similar, “The Lion King” lacks the heart and captivating storytelling of its predecessor. In saying that, one thing this film does particularly well is its musical numbers, with Circle of Life being particularly compelling, highlighting some pretty incredible visual achievements throughout the story.
12. Mulan (2020)
“Mulan” does the opposite of “The Lion King” and diverges quite significantly from the original animated film. It introduces new villains, eliminates characters like Mushu, strips away musical elements and instead makes “Mulan” a war epic. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Disney purists seeing so much taken away, but it’s also easy to appreciate the sweeping visuals and fantastic performance from Liu Yifei. It’s less of a Disney remake and more of an action film with excellent sequences and average storytelling.
11. Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
Stepping away from a retelling of an already perfectly told story, Mufasa delivers fan service moments, but also tells a compelling story of brotherhood. This sequel/prequel tells the story of Mufasa’s childhood to eventually becoming King from the perspective of Rafiki. The story is relatively interesting, the visual treatment is a vast improvement from Barry Jenkin’s first stab at this form of animation and Lin-Manuel Miranda delivers some solid ear worms. There are definitely areas that could be improved upon, particularly cutting down on those Timon and Pumbaa scenes, but overall it’s a harmless fun tale of some of Disney’s most iconic characters.
10. Snow White (2025)
Ignoring the unnecessary controversy that surrounds this film, this live-action retelling of Disney’s first animated feature has some bright spots. Rachel Ziegler shines as the first Disney Princess, capturing the original character’s essence while adding charisma and bravery. Her angelic voice elevates average songs, though excessive musical numbers prolong what should be a simple plot thread. The Dwarfs are enjoyable but the weak CGI is difficult to get over, and while the Evil Queen lacks the same impact of the original iconic character, her costumes are stunning!
9. Christopher Robin (2018)
Ewan McGregor delivers a fine performance as the titular Christopher Robin, despite the overdone conception of an overworked cynical adult that lacks any sort of imagination character written for him. Yet, it’s the reimagining of Pooh Bear and his friends that brings heart and soul to this film, and plucks those nostalgic heartstrings in every way. Emphasizing these characters’ identities as stuffed animals adds to the magic and gives the film the charm it needs when the underdeveloped “real world” pulls focus.
8. Cruella (2021)
Similarly to “Maleficent”, “Cruella” adds layers to a character who was once a one-dimensional villain, and manages to make her a complex role model by the story’s end. The connection to the “101 Dalmatians” story is a little wonky, as it only touches on the original film in small bites. It seemed at first that the origin story of Cruella de Vil wasn’t a story we needed, but thankfully, alongside some top notch costumes, Emma Stone delivers a performance so delightful and fun, that we are left wanting more.
7. Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Emma Watson was already the living embodiment of Bella in real life, so donning her in the jaw dropping gold dress, was a no brainer. Alongside Watson, the rest of the casting choices were flawless and the production design behind the village and the Beast’s Castle were remarkably stunning. The story elements and musical numbers that emulate the animated film are also really well done. It’s those additional songs that we all would like to ignore – why mess with Oscar nominated perfection?
6. Lilo & Stitch (2025)
A Disney live-action remake that proves everyone wrong is a delightful yet rare surprise, but that’s exactly what Lilo & Stitch does. First things first, Maia Kealoha (Lilo) is a star. Immediately, she captures your heart with her imaginative and rebellious attitude towards life. Stitch is just as adorable and rambunctious as he was in the cartoon, bringing a lot of light and humor, especially during those emotionally charged scenes between Lilo and Nani. Although some changes revolving around Jumba and Pleakley are a little disappointing for the diehard Stitch fans, it’s made up for with an emotionally raw narrative of family and friendship.
5. The Little Mermaid (2023)
Playing such an iconic princess was never going to be an easy task but Halle Bailey does it remarkably, capturing that sweet, curious, naivety of Ariel at every turn. Bailey definitely has the best voice of any person cast in these reimagined films, and adds another layer of excellence to the beautiful musical score of this film. The additional songs from both Ariel and Prince Eric, whose character significantly improves, fit well with the narrative. Melissa McCarthy also plays Ursula admirably, and the only real downside are the remaining side characters, especially the poorly executed CGI fish.
4. The Jungle Book (2016)
“The Jungle Book” is very loyal to its source material, but unlike “The Lion King” manages to maintain the heart of its story, with a stellar voice cast that’s dedicated to bringing these beloved characters to life. In a lot of ways, the film improves upon its predecessor, and creates a visual exploration of an animal kingdom so gorgeous, it set a new standard for what CGI can do. The musical numbers are disappointing, as the film doesn’t fully commit to the classic songs, but overall it’s certainly one of the most engaging Disney remakes.
3. Aladdin (2019)
A whole new world was created to bring the colourful city of Agrabah to life, with arguably the best production design of any of the Disney live-action remakes. This is combined with strong performances from Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott who stay true to the original characters and love story of Aladdin and Jasmine, but also add a little bit of realism to the streetrat and the princess. Will Smith made the Genie his own instead of trying to replicate Robin Williams’ masterpiece, making “Aladdin” pure entertainment from start to finish.
2. Maleficent (2014)
If any iconic Disney villain deserved to be the star of their own story, it’s Maleficent. After watching Angelina Jolie step into the dark fairy’s shoes, it’s evident no one could have ever done the character justice like she did. Her magnetic performance may outshine everything else in the film, but there is no denying the dazzling atmosphere surrounding her, as well as the beautifully quiet performance of Elle Fanning as Aurora, who adds more depth to a relatively non-descript character. “Alice in Wonderland” may have been the first of the Disney live-action renaissance, but “Maleficent” is the story this new era of films are built upon.
1. Cinderella (2015)
The struggle to find a balance between honouring the original animated classic, while adding new layers is evident in almost every single Disney live-action reimagining, except this one. “Cinderella” refreshingly sticks to its traditional roots and captures that same magic of the cartoon, while using this extra time to develop the character of Cinderella more fully, adding depth to both her as a person and her relationship with Prince Charming. Lily James is the quintessential embodiment of the most famous Disney princess of all-time and is surrounded by a supporting cast that nails every detail of their characters. With a gorgeously designed setting, costumes, and a score to match – “Cinderella” is Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Perfection.
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