Disney Live-Action Remakes Ranked: From The Little Mermaid to The Lion King

A definitely revisionist take on J.M. Barrie’s original story, the version not only centers Wendy (Ever Anderson) to a greater degree than any previous film but also considers the life-altering impact of meeting Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and then being forced to leave Neverland. Indeed, the film’s Capt. Hook (Jude Law) is a former lost boy who is spiteful because he grew up and his childhood chum didn’t. It’s an interesting interpretation, although in this case, it is overshadowed by the fact that we’ve seen the theme of Peter Pan (or his pal) growing up done with far more grandeur in Spielberg’s Hook (1991), which benefited from the budget and care that Peter Pan & Wendy’s limited Disney+ investment could never allow. The film’s gray drabness (again a Disney M.O. to hide shoddy VFX) makes Lowery’s reimagining also pale in comparison to the far more gorgeous 2003 live-action adaptation starring Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs, and Rachel Hurd-Wood.

That 2003 version is a treasure, but it flopped and was not made by Disney. So most children of today will never see it, whereas Peter Pan & Wendy will be seen by millions on Disney+. That isn’t a bad thing though for a movie as clever and compassionate as Lowery’s.

4. Lady and the Tramp (2019)

Of all the lavish and bombastic Disney remakes of 2019—Aladdin! Dumbo!! The Lion King!!!—Charlie Bean’s far more modest Lady and the Tramp went largely overlooked by anyone but families when it premiered on Disney+. But those youngest of families were fortunate to find the best of the bunch in this quiet, affectionate, and easygoing entertainment.

While suffering from the fact that “photorealistic” CGI animals will never have as much color or personality as those drawn by hand, Tessa Thompson’s cocker spaniel and Justin Theroux’s mutt are both sketched with enough exaggeration to get the job done (something Favreau should have noticed while making Lion King). What’s more appealing is that while the movie retraces all the story beats from the 1955 classic, it does so with a sweetly affectionate and unhurried pace. The film is happy to luxuriate in Walt Disney’s (idealized) memory of turn of the 20th century America, as well as the simplicity of a story about love, family, and dogs. It’s saccharine but in that endearing way mastered by older Disney movies. Think Homeward Bound (1993) as much as Lady and the Tramp.

3. Cinderella (2015)

Kenneth Branagh is a filmmaker who likes to try on different hats: Shakespearean tragedies and comedies here, superhero movies like Thor and whodunits like Death on the Nile there. But when he tried his hand at a Disney fairytale with the remake of Cinderella, he just so happened to make one of the very best ones. While a definite repeat of Walt’s 1950 animated classic, Branagh updates it just enough for contemporary sensibilities to keep it fresh.

A classicalist at heart, Branagh is often on his best foot with archetypal stories, and few are as archetypal as Cinderella. Cate Blanchett’s evil stepmother is unnervingly convincing in her evil, Helena Bonham Carter’s fairy godmother is flighty fun, and Lily James and Richard Madden’s chemistry as Cinderella and her prince provide swoon-worthy chemistry. Every time the two share the screen (including in an added meet-cute), the film crackles. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but unlike a lot of “changes” for modern tastes, the updates here feel like sincere creative choices meant to enhance the basic appeal of the fairytale, as opposed to placating competing special interests in a boardroom. This Cinderella is a sweet, lovely, and timeless fairytale given a fine modern sheen.