The Walt Disney Company has spent the last century creating some of the most heartfelt stories to ever grace cinema. Many of its creations have received criticisms thanks to their immersive stories and lovable characters, so much so in fact, that the company has been remaking them in an attempt to recapture what made them so magical with modern technology.
In recent years, Disney has been pumping out live-action remakes of their most popular tales. Most have been received well by fans and critics alike, but some of these adaptations failed in recapturing the magic the originals were able to convey. Though not all of these remakes were as popular as the cartoon they were based on, the vast majority were approached with great respect for the source material.
10 101 Dalmatians (1996)
Besides the 1994 Jungle Book remake, 101 Dalmatians, directed by Stephen Herek, was one of the first Disney remakes to repurpose an already classic story for the big screen. It follows the story of Pongo and Perdita, two adorable dalmatians whose peaceful lives begin to spiral out of control when their 99 puppies are stolen.
The remake features an incredible cast, with Glen Close, Jeff Daniels, and Hugh Laurie's performances as the main antagonists standing out the most. The live-action approach also permits the screen to be regularly overrun by countless adorable puppies, further accentuating the movie's already impressive awe-factor.
9 Dumbo (2019)
Tim Burton's approach to reshaping the story of Dumbo is iconic. As one would expect, many of Burton's classic filmmaking tendencies make their way into this adaption, marking it as one of the darker remakes Disney has made.
The story follows Dumbo, a young elephant with an unusual gift. He has ginormous ears, but he detests them and considers them a curse. They bring him much-unwanted attention and, though he despises them at first, he eventually comes to embrace them toward the end of his story.
8 Alice In Wonderland (2010)
The Alice in Wonderland remake received mixed reviews for a variety of different reasons. It completely reshaped the story told in the original and also seemed to place most of its focus on conveying a much darker theme than what fans were familiar with.
Though it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, it is difficult to deny how unique this remake was. It loosely follows the same plot beats as the original, but the scale in which the altered tale unfolds is much more impressive. The original was surreal, but the remake takes it to a new level.
7 The Lion King (2019)
Jon Favreau's The Lion King is a visual masterpiece, so why was its reception so mixed? Many consider the original Lion King to be a perfect Disney movie, so a remake of this beloved tale was always going to displease a few fans no matter how it turned out.
Much of its criticism is due to the way the movie's wildlife is designed and how they interact with their environments. They lack emotion, making it more difficult for the viewer to truly submerge themselves in the narrative. Even though the movie failed at capturing what made the original so compelling, it is clear that a great deal of love and care went into its production.
6 Aladdin (2019)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
The Aladdin remake, directed by Guy Ritchie, changed a great deal about the original story. The extra forty minutes allocated to correcting the original's controversial story permitted many of these changes to be made and, though one would usually expect an approach like this to completely ruin a movie, the decision to alter certain elements has allowed the remake to correct its predecessor's mistakes.
Jasmine and Genie are each given much more compelling backstories and personalities, but the film's best aspect lies in its approach to Arabian culture. The original's racist undertones are now nowhere to be seen, allowing the overall story to feel much more respectful as a result.
5 Lady And The Tramp (2019)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Charlie Bean's Lady and the Tramp takes an already beautiful story and redesigns it to make it feel even more heartwarming. It follows the story of two canines from different walks of life as they slowly form an unbreakable bond as a result of their worlds colliding.
Like The Lion King remake, Lady and the Tramp struggles to breathe life into its main characters. The charming cartoonish style of the original allowed them to clearly emote, but the remake only partially achieves this. That said, most of Lady and Tramp's emotions are witnessed through their actions, making the need for physical emotion feel less necessary.
4 Beauty And The Beast (2017)
Bill Condon's Beauty and the Beast follows the heartwarming story of a young woman who agrees to sacrifice her freedom to ensure her father's safety. The remake, for the most part, follows a similar structure to the original, but certain elements have been added to help it stand out.
A newly updated score, as well as a couple of new songs, were implemented into the Beauty and the Beast remake to both entice fans of the original to give it a chance, and also to further accentuate the emotions felt by certain characters. The overall design of the movie feels heavily inspired by the original, making it one of the more respectful live-action remakes Disney has made so far.
3 Mulan (2020)
Niki Caro's Mulan received mixed reviews upon its release due to its unique approach to reshaping the original's story. The musical numbers that made the original so memorable have all been removed in favor of telling a more realistic story and the villains are no longer as cartoonish as they once were.
Like in the original, Mulan disguises herself as a man to gain a spot in the army. She does so to bring honor to her family, but the remake allows her to shape her own story. No longer does she live her life hoping to appease her father, but instead to uncover and pursue her own destiny.
2 Cinderella (2015)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella took was an already cherished story and modified it to become even more endearing. It follows Cinderella, a young woman whose life is turned upside down after her father leaves her in the care of her ruthless stepmother.
The original Cinderella was charming and, though the remake exhibits similar traits, its approach to conveying the sadness Cinderella feels is truly heartbreaking. It embraces her feelings of isolation far more than the original ever did, permitting the story to feel much more believable.
1 The Jungle Book (2016)
Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book is Disney's most well-received live-action remake to date. It documents the story of Mowgli, a young orphan who was raised in the jungle by a pack of wild wolves since birth. Thanks to the help of some unlikely wild animals, Mowgli sets off on a journey to discover his purpose in life, but not all jungle dwellers seek to aid him on this quest.
Featuring a phenomenal cast, story, and score, it is no wonder why The Jungle Book was received so well. Jon Favreau's attempt at modernizing what seemed to be an already perfect story paid off as he perfectly recaptured the magic that made the original so wonderful. Disney has created some truly stunning remakes so far, but none have been nearly as powerful as 2016's The Jungle Book.