The Only 6 Live-Action Disney Remakes Worth Watching

 

Disney used to squeeze as much money as possible out of their movies by placing them in "the vault" (making them unavailable for broadcast) for a few years. Nowadays, the Mouse House milks every last drop of dough out of old IP by, among other things, remaking their cartoon features as live-action movies. While this practice has been roundly criticized by some, it has been immensely lucrative. And in some cases, it's also been artistically effective. But only in a handful of instances. Here they are:   

6. Pete's Dragon

One of the Mouse House's few remakes to start out as a live-action/animated hybrid, Pete's Dragon

5. The Little Mermaid

While The Little Mermaid was a domestic success, it was DOA overseas. Due to the complaints of online trolls regarding the main character being portrayed by an African-American actress as opposed to a white cartoon, there's widespread speculation that racism is to blame for the movie's collapse. If so, the racists really missed out, since the film's only real problem is the ever-irritating presence of Awkwafina. 

4. Cinderella

Cinderella didn't stray very far from its animated counterpart -- and aside from some welcome ethnic diversity -- didn't need to. This fairytale about an orphan with a heart of gold who suffers abuse at the hands of her stepmother and sisters-by-marriage was already a winner.

3. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Mistress of Evil's predecessor wholeheartedly embraced misandry, reframing the wicked title character as a victim and blaming all of her misdeeds on a male character who was innocent in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. This sequel balances out the gender dynamics, adding a new villainess and a masculine victim, serving to deepen this tale of vengeance and forgiveness.

2. The Jungle Book

 

The Jungle Book features Disney's first film led by a non-white human character and this live-action adaptation is the studio's first movie packed wall-to-wall with photorealistic anthropomorphic animals. Though the absence of Baloo's deep, booming voice is impossible to ignore (the filmmakers having opted to hire Bill Murray for the role), the other vocal cast changes make for refreshing updates. And Kaa's gender-swap prevents the story's toxicity from being thoroughly masculine.

1. Pinocchio

While Pinocchio is the most unnecessary live-action Disney remake, owing to the strength of the original, it is nonetheless the best -- by far. Though the 1941 film is the superior version and most of the update's deviations from the source material are entirely dispensable, not to mention, clear downgrades (some even miss the point), this modernized adaptation is still a good pick for those interested in the story's combination of valuable life lessons, entertainment and heart.

Head-scratching alterations notwithstanding, the whole gang's here to support Pinocch during his crash-course in humanity. Gepetto, Figaro, Jiminy and even Cleo show up.

Updated 7/31/23