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 (Dumbo). For the completionist’s sake, we’re also including sequels like 102 Dalmatians in this list, as well as movies whose stories haven’t necessarily been told before but 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. Cruella did well enough as the first major release during the pandemic era, though later entries (2022’s Pinocchio and 2023’s Peter Pan & Wendy) found varying degrees of success, including The Little Mermaid. With Mufasa: The Lion King now out, here’s what’s coming up: Snow White on March 21, 2025, and Moana on July 10, 2026.
Without further ado, here are all 23 Disney live-action remakes, ranked from worst to best.
23. PINOCCHIO (2022)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live-action and CGI retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket.
Review: Visually dazzling but soulless, the largely inert Pinocchio reaffirms that you should always let your conscience be your guide… away from unnecessary remakes.
22. ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (2016)
Director: James Bobin
After slipping through a mirror, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself back in Underland with the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Her friends tell her that the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is in a funk over the loss of his family. Hoping to save his loved ones, Alice steals the Chronosphere from Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) to travel into the past. While there, she encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).
Review: 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.
21. 102 DALMATIANS (2000)
Director: Kevin Lima
Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) is released from prison, only to resume her fur-obsessed schemes, leading to a wild romp through Paris.
Review: This sequel is simply more of the same—dragging in parts, potentially boring kids, and too violent for a G-rated movie.
20. 101 DALMATIANS (1996)
Director: Stephen Herek
Fashion designer Anita and computer-game writer Roger meet, fall in love and marry along with their dalmatians Perdita and Pongo. The dogs’ puppies are kidnapped by Anita’s boss Cruella De Vil, who is stealing young dalmatians to make the coat she has set her heart on. Pongo and Perdita set out to find and rescue all ninety-nine pups from their fearsome captors.
Review: Neat performance from Glenn Close aside, 101 Dalmatians is a bland, pointless remake.
19. DUMBO (2019)
Director: Tim Burton
Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction — bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus. The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture.
Review: 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.
18. PETER PAN & WENDY (2023)
Director: David Lowery
Based on J. M. Barrie’s novel “Peter and Wendy” and inspired by the 1953 animated classic, “Peter Pan & Wendy” is the timeless tale of a young girl who, defying her parents’ wishes to attend boarding school, travels with her two younger brothers to the magical Neverland. There, she meets a boy who refuses to grow up, a tiny fairy and an evil pirate captain, and they soon find themselves on a thrilling and dangerous adventure far, far away from their family and the comforts of home.
Review: Peter Pan & Wendy‘s obligatory fidelity to the animated classic keeps it from achieving Neverland nirvana, but David Lowery’s pensive direction gives this rendition some of its own magic.
17. SNOW WHITE (2025)
Director: Marc Webb
“Disney’s Snow White,” a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film, opens exclusively in theaters March 21, 2025. Starring Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) in the title role and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen, the magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
Review: Snow White is hardly a grumpy time at the movies thanks to Rachel Zegler’s luminous star turn, but its bashful treatment of the source material along with some dopey stylistic choices won’t make everyone happy, either.
16. LADY AND THE TRAMP (2019)
Director: Charlie Bean
In this heartwarming romantic adventure, a timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, Lady, an overachieving, pampered American Cocker Spaniel house dog and Tramp, a tough but lovable, fast-talking stray, embark on an unexpected adventure and, despite their differences, grow closer and come to understand the value of home.
Review: 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.
15. MUFASA: THE LION KING (2024)
Director: Barry Jenkins
“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
Review: Barry Jenkins’ deft hand and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music go some way towards squaring the Circle of Life in Mufasa, but this fitfully soulful story is ill-served by its impersonal, photorealistic animation style.
14. MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (2019)
Director: Joachim Rønning
Maleficent travels to a grand old castle to celebrate young Aurora’s upcoming wedding to Prince Phillip. While there, she meets Aurora’s future mother-in-law — a conniving queen who hatches a devious plot to destroy the land’s fairies. Hoping to stop her, Maleficent joins forces with a seasoned warrior and a group of outcasts to battle the queen and her powerful army.
Review: 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.
13. THE LION KING (2019)
Director: Jon Favreau
Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother — and former heir to the throne — has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Review: 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.
12. ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010)
Director: Tim Burton
A young girl when she first visited magical Underland, Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) is now a teenager with no memory of the place — except in her dreams. Her life takes a turn for the unexpected when, at a garden party for her fiance and herself, she spots a certain white rabbit and tumbles down a hole after him. Reunited with her friends the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the Cheshire Cat and others, Alice learns it is her destiny to end the Red Queen’s (Helena Bonham Carter) reign of terror.
Review: Tim Burton’s Alice sacrifices the book’s minimal narrative coherence—and much of its heart—but it’s an undeniable visual treat.
11. MALEFICENT (2014)
Director: Robert Stromberg
As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king’s successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora—realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.
Review: Angelina Jolie’s magnetic performance outshines Maleficent‘s dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.
10. ALADDIN (2019)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Aladdin is a lovable street urchin who meets Princess Jasmine, the beautiful daughter of the sultan of Agrabah. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life genie. As Aladdin and the genie start to become friends, they must soon embark on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing young Jasmine’s kingdom.
Review: 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.
9. MULAN (2020)
Director: Niki Caro
To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China.
Review: 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.
8. PETE’S DRAGON (2016)
Director: David Lowery
Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford), a woodcarver, delights local children with stories of a mysterious dragon that lives deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) believes these are just tall tales, until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who says he lives in the woods with a giant, friendly dragon. With help from a young girl named Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to investigate if this fantastic claim can be true.
Review: 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.
7. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017)
Director: Bill Condon
Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) in its castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the beast’s hideous exterior, allowing her to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true prince that hides on the inside.
Review: 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.
6. RUDYARD KIPLING’S THE JUNGLE BOOK (1994)
Director: Stephen Sommers
When his father is killed by a jungle tiger, Mowgli (Jason Scott Lee) is orphaned and grows up in the wild, raised by animals. Years later, the bracelet given to him by his childhood friend, Kitty (Lena Headey), is stolen. In pursuing it, he discovers Monkey City with all its treasures. He is reunited with Kitty, but struggles to adapt to civilization. When Kitty’s unscrupulous suitor, Capt. Boone (Cary Elwes), attempts to raid the jungle of its treasures, Mowgli’s life is imperiled.
Review: 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.
5. THE LITTLE MERMAID (2023)
Director: Rob Marshall
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life—and her father’s crown—in jeopardy.
Review: With Halle Bailey making a major splash in the title role, Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid ranks among the studio’s most enjoyable reimaginings.
4. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (2018)
Director: Marc Forster
Christopher Robin—now a family man living in London—receives a surprise visit from his old childhood pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. With Christopher’s help, Pooh embarks on a journey to find his friends—Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo. Once reunited, the lovable bear and the gang travel to the big city to help Christopher rediscover the joy of life.
Review: 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.
3. CINDERELLA (2015)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
After her father unexpectedly dies, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, who reduce her to scullery maid. Despite her circumstances, she refuses to despair. An invitation to a palace ball gives Ella hope that she might reunite with the dashing stranger (Richard Madden) she met in the woods, but her stepmother prevents her from going. Help arrives in the form of a kindly beggar woman who has a magic touch for ordinary things.
Review: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella proves Disney hasn’t lost any of its old-fashioned magic.
2. CRUELLA (2021)
Director: Craig Gillespie
Rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious—and notoriously fashionable—villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs.
Review: 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.
1. THE JUNGLE BOOK (2016)
Director: Jon Favreau
Raised by a family of wolves since birth, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) must leave the only home he’s ever known when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) unleashes his mighty roar. Guided by a no-nonsense panther (Ben Kingsley) and a free-spirited bear (Bill Murray), the young boy meets an array of jungle animals, including a slithery python and a smooth-talking ape. Along the way, Mowgli learns valuable life lessons as his epic journey of self-discovery leads to fun and adventure.
Review: 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.
From the transcendent (The Jungle Book, Cruella) to the tedious (Pinocchio, Dumbo), Disney’s live-action remakes prove that not all magic can be replicated—or should be. While some (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast) honor their animated forebears with grace, others (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Alice Through the Looking Glass) lose their way in spectacle over substance. Follow @NoConCulture for more!
