5 Live-Action Disney Adaptations That Worked & 5 That Killed the Legacy

5 Live-Action Disney Adaptations That Worked and 5 That Killed the Legacy

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at five live-action or photorealistic Disney remakes that did justice to their animated source material… and another five that left us wanting to watch the original.

#5: Killed the Legacy: “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)

While Disney’s past live-action remakes were hit-and-miss, they at least tried to differentiate themselves. With Bill Condon’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Disney developed a habit of virtually copying the same movie. On one hand, the 1991 classic was a Best Picture nominee. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, but why remake it if there’s nothing to improve? The musical numbers aren’t as lively, the colors aren’t as vibrant, and the few changes we do get just raise more questions. Aside from being a cash cow, the film’s only purpose is to address plot holes that millennials whined about online. Okay, it’s firmly established that the Prince wasn’t turned into a beast at age 11. Does that really make this a better movie?

#5: Worked: “Cruella” (2021)

“Wicked” popularized the idea of reframing classic stories from the villain’s perspective, making them more sympathetic. “Cruella” continues this trend, but with a few standout differences. While Cruella is more nuanced here, this isn’t purely a case of society turning a good person bad. Cruella always had a nasty side and this adaptation allows her to embrace it. It also allows Emma Stone to have a ball in the titular role, practically exploding with bliss every time she says, “darling.” Craig Gillespie’s slick direction, Jenny Beavan’s Oscar-winning costumes, and a killer soundtrack make this one of Disney’s most atmospheric live-action adaptations. We might’ve enjoyed it even more had the story been permitted to go even darker, but the film earns that PG-13 rating nonetheless.

#4: Killed the Legacy: “Dumbo” (2019)

Although visually inventive, “Dumbo” lacks the edge we’d expect from director Tim Burton or the 1941 classic. Removing the crows we understand, but this adaptation feels like a watered-down version, especially in the pink elephant department. What’s more, the remake carries a fair deal of hypocrisy considering that the villain is an amusement park owner who throws money at the product he wants and fires most of the personnel who come with the acquisition. We mean, Disney would never do that! The film’s message about returning wild animals to their natural habitat is well-intentioned, but again, Disney hasn’t always practiced what they preach. Remember when Disney’s Animal Kingdom was ranked among the “10 worst zoos for elephants?” These real-world parallels make for a distracting watch.

#4: Worked: “Pete’s Dragon” (2016)

Comparing David Lowery’s “Pete’s Dragon” to the 1977 original is like night and day. Where one is cute and lighthearted, the other isn’t afraid to tackle deeper concepts like death, trauma, and starting over. Gone are the over-the-top villains and musical numbers, but in their place, we’re given characters with layers and several quiet, poignant moments. This is especially apparent in Elliott the dragon, who doesn’t talk, but his facial expressions speak louder than words. The film also manages to tie in an environmental message that surprisingly doesn’t feel forced or overly preachy. To us, this is what a remake should do: maintain the essential elements while experimenting with different tones, themes, and dynamics, turning something familiar into something fresh.

#3: Killed the Legacy: “Peter Pan & Wendy” (2023)

David Lowery sadly couldn’t work the same magic with his take on “Peter Pan.” It’s a shame since “Peter Pan & Wendy” has some interesting ideas, particularly concerning Captain Hook’s origins. Those ideas aren’t given enough room to breathe, however. Characters like John, Michael, and the crocodile feel shoehorned into the story simply because they were in the source material. Even Wendy, who’s well-played by Ever Anderson, gets lost in a movie that’s supposed to be half about her. This is one of the least imaginative interpretations of Neverland and there’s no sense of fun. We appreciate that they tried something a little different, but the film comes off as grown up in all the wrong ways, never quite taking flight.

#3: Worked: “Cinderella” (2015)

As much as we love the 1950 version, the animal sidekicks could occasionally steal the show from the film’s namesake. Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation wisely keeps the focus on Cinderella while also fleshing out a few other key players. Richard Madden’s Prince Kit is a much more well-defined character, sharing a natural chemistry with Lily James’ Ella. Cate Blanchett strikes just the right note as Lady Tremaine, bringing new depths to the villain while still being menacing above all else. In terms of sets and costumes, this may be the best-looking Disney remake, creating a fairy tale world we want to live in. It might not be able to compete with the original’s legacy, but Branagh’s modern take deserves to be used in the same sentence.

#2: Killed the Legacy: “Pinocchio” (2022)

Watching Robert Zemeckis’ “Pinocchio,” we kept asking ourselves, “Why?” Why remake a movie if you’re not even going to change the main character’s design? Why would you make Pinocchio well-behaved to the point that he doesn’t need Jiminy Cricket to be his conscience? Why force poor Tom Hanks to wear a ridiculous wig and do his worst “House of Gucci” impression? Why spend $150 million on a remake nobody asked for only to dump it on a streaming service? Why make it live-action if most of the characters and environments are going to be CG anyway? Why release it the same year as another “Pinocchio” retelling that was better in every way? We’d go on, but our list of questions is longer than Pinocchio’s nose.

#2: Worked: “The Jungle Book” (2016)

The word that best describes Jon Favreau’s “Jungle Book” is balanced. It finds a solid middle ground between Rudyard Kipling’s stories and Disney’s animated adaptation. It preserves Disney’s lovable characters while delving deeper into the mature themes of Kipling’s work. Mowgli, in particular, is a more complex and active protagonist this time around, attempting to build a bridge between two worlds. The Oscar-winning effects also unearth a happy medium between realism and personality. The animals look real, but you can still see the voice actors in their faces. While the 1967 film marked a significant milestone in Disney’s legacy, this is the rare remake that’s more visually innovative and arguably stronger on a storytelling level. It’s all of the bare necessities and more.

#1: Killed the Legacy: “The Lion King” (2019)

The original “Lion King” is one of the grandest and most impactful animated films ever made. In that sense, nothing can truly “kill” its legacy, although this remake’s existence cheapens it. With “The Jungle Book,” Jon Favreau put a unique spin on a well-known story while playing with groundbreaking technology. With Favreau’s “Lion King,” it’s all about the technology, but even that misfires. Although we can’t say the visuals are unimpressive, Favreau goes all in on realism this time, which doesn’t service a story where animals need to talk, sing, and display humanoid emotion. This adaptation is to “Lion King” what Gus Van Sant’s “Psycho” remake is to Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece. It’s exactly the same, but all of the passion has been sucked out.

#1: Worked: “Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers” (2022)

Whether you want to call it a remake, a reboot, or a “comeback” as the poster proudly proclaims, “Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers” is an adaptation that gets nostalgia right. The filmmakers’ affection for the Disney Afternoon staple is on display, but so is their drive to make this version their own. The result is just as much a “Roger Rabbit” love letter with clever satire and a cavalcade of side characters (some more shocking than others). At its core, though, the film understands Chip and Dale’s dynamic, making for one of the studio’s best buddy pictures in a long time. Taking risks that pay off and mixing the old with the new in inspired ways, it’s one you must’ve let slip through the cracks.

Which live-action adaptations do you think worked and which left you asking, “Why?” Let us know in the comments.