(Photo by Disney /Courtesy Everett Collection)
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 according to the Tomatometer (Dumbo). For the completionist’s sake, we’re also including sequels like 102 Dalmatians in this list, and well as movies whose stories haven’t necessarily been told before, but which 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 to have a premiere during the pandemic era (and you’ve got to roll out the red carpet for the Dalmatians villain), though additional entries to this series (2022’s Pinocchio and 2023’s Peter Pan and Wendy) have found varying degrees of success. The latest is The Little Mermaid, with Snow White set for 2024, along with a Mufasa-centric addition to Lion King.
Now we’re taking a look back on every Disney live-action remake ranked by Tomatometer! —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 112792%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#2
Adjusted Score: 101814%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#3
Adjusted Score: 92747%
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella proves Disney hasn’t lost any of its old-fashioned magic.
#4
Adjusted Score: 81459%
Critics Consensus: 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
Adjusted Score: 94706%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#6
Adjusted Score: 92974%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#7
Adjusted Score: 85564%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#8
Adjusted Score: 97857%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#9
Adjusted Score: 80918%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#10
Adjusted Score: 69863%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#11
Adjusted Score: 69762%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#12
Adjusted Score: 79142%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#13
Adjusted Score: 64983%
Critics Consensus: Angelina Jolie’s magnetic performance outshines Maleficent‘s dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.
#14
Adjusted Score: 77080%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#15
Adjusted Score: 61339%
Critics Consensus: Tim Burton’s Alice sacrifices the book’s minimal narrative coherence — and much of its heart — but it’s an undeniable visual treat.
#16
Adjusted Score: 66183%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#17
Adjusted Score: 42369%
Critics Consensus: Neat performance from Glenn Close aside, 101 Dalmatians is a bland, pointless remake.
#18
Adjusted Score: 53528%
Critics Consensus: 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.
#19
Adjusted Score: 33675%
Critics Consensus: This sequel to the live-action 101 Dalmatians is simply more of the same. Critics say it also drags in parts, potentially boring children, and that it’s too violent for a G-rated movie.
#20
Adjusted Score: 36563%
Critics Consensus: Visually dazzling but soulless, the largely inert Pinocchio reaffirms that you should always let your conscience be your guide… away from unnecessary remakes.
#21
Adjusted Score: 43713%
Critics Consensus: Alice Through the Looking Glass is 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.