The Most Enchanting Live-Action Disney Remakes
What’s one thing I absolutely won’t stand for? Hating on Disney remakes. For far too long, the world has hated on live-action Disney remakes because they’re “unoriginal” or “goofy”, and to that I argue: Do you just hate a little magic in your life? I love seeing films I cherish from my childhood get reimagined for the real world. With the remake of Lilo and Stitch hitting theaters this weekend, let’s break down our favorite live-action Disney remakes.
Honorable Mention: Enchanted
Before you start throwing tomatoes at me, let me preface this by saying I know this isn’t a remake. However, I’d argue that this film set the standard for Disney’s live-action franchise. Giselle’s story deliberately emulates nearly all the original princesses in one way or another—especially the first Disney princess film, Snow White. She is set to marry a charming prince (after knowing him for barely 30 seconds) and is then banished from the kingdom by the Evil Queen. Sound familiar? Enchanted introduced the idea of a Disney princess who leapt off the sketch pad and transformed into a beautiful, real-life human—showing audiences that magic can exist even in reality, if you’re willing to look for it.
The Lion King
This film came under scrutiny for being considered “live-action” when obviously, all the animals are CGI. Once again, I will challenge all skeptics to have some fun! This remake was a fun watch from start to finish with incredible animation. Sometimes, I’d forget I wasn’t watching real animals! Perhaps the best part of this remake was the return of beloved songs and an incredible voice cast. Can you imagine telling your younger self that a new The Lion King movie was coming out and Beyonce is going to play Nala? Insane.
Mary Poppins Returns
This is technically not a remake, but Mary Poppins Returns is a great sequel that does a beautiful job staying true to the original. While this film often goes overlooked, Emily Blunt deserves endless praise for her portrayal of Mary Poppins. Can you imagine how terrifying it’d be to step into a role so beloved, thanks to its original portrayal by the one and only Julie Andrews? That’s a feat not many could achieve — and Blunt absolutely nailed her iteration of the magical nanny.
Cruella
If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will! Emma Stone stepped into the sinister shoes of Cruella de Vil in Cruella, a live-action reimagining of the evil fashion designer. This story keeps you on your toes from start to finish and does the impossible: it makes you sort of like the puppy-hating villain.
Snow White
Rachel Zegler hate will never be tolerated here! She was the perfect pick to play a Disney princess, and she made me love Snow White. As an early 2000’s baby, I missed out on the hype for Snow White growing up. As a kid, I found her story to be really old and honestly, extremely terrifying. I still have nightmares of the Snow White ride my six-year-old self endured at Disney World. However, Zegler brought a sincerity to the princess, giving her a lovable, independent personality and a deeper backstory I believe was missing from the original. The animation style blew me away in the theater — it’s mesmerizing how they captured the storybook magic of a cartoon while simultaneously making it look real. This was a magical remake where audiences, unfortunately, didn’t give Zegler the flowers she deserved — but I loved every second of watching her embody a truly beautiful Disney princess.
Maleficent
This reimagining of the wonderfully wicked villain from Sleeping Beauty opened my eyes to the idea that there are always two sides to the same story. Angelina Jolie embodied the role of Maleficent so perfectly, and made you love the character despite her questionable decisions. Plus, casting Elle Fanning as Aurora was the perfect choice. I loved Maleficent so much more than the original cartoon, and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the original after this movie.
Cinderella
If I had to pick only one word to describe this film, it’d be magical. This Cinderella remake was drop-dead gorgeous from start to finish. Lily James wore Cinderella’s glass slippers with such grace and sincerity, it leaves you mesmerized. While it stayed true to most of the original cartoon, I loved the added backstory of Ella meeting Prince Charming ahead of the ball, showing off their spectacular chemistry. If you want to escape reality and bask in the beauty of fairytales, this is the perfect film for you!
Aladdin
Given the massive success of the original cartoon and the sheer scope of its magic, an Aladdin remake felt like a tall wish to grant. However, the Disney genies delivered more than I could have dreamed for this remake! Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott’s chemistry was off the charts, and they both embodied their characters beautifully. Bringing Guy Ritchie on board as director was a genius move — his knack for action films fit Aladdin’s street-rat story perfectly. Will Smith deserves major recognition for stepping into the Genie’s blue skin. The role is so beloved thanks to Robin Williams’s unforgettable portrayal, but Smith did a great job of making Genie his own while still paying homage to the late comedy legend. And don’t even get me started on Scott’s portrayal of Princess Jasmine! She was the perfect choice for the independent princess. The Lemonade Mouth fan in me absolutely gushed when the “She’s So Gone” singer got a solo.
Beauty and the Beast
This film breathed new life into a tale as old as time! The original cartoon is one of my favorite Disney classics, and the live-action iteration quickly became one of my favorite films of all time. Casting Emma Watson as Belle might be one of the greatest choices ever made. Her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise practically trained her to play the beautiful, kind-hearted bookworm. The set design, casting, music, and the added depth to Belle and the Beast’s backstories are what make Beauty and the Beast one of the best Disney remakes to date.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid scores the number one spot on our list thanks to its enchanting remake that seamlessly honors the original story. Halle Bailey is Ariel. From her childlike wonder to her effortlessly kind heart, Bailey was born to play this role. I’ll admit, I started sobbing in the theater as I watched her belt the lyrics to “Part of Your World.”
Portraying life under the sea is no easy feat. It needed to feel real, yet still look bright and magical — and the animation team knocked it out of the park. Both the original songs and the added songs transported audiences to island life and I still find myself singing them! The best part of this remake was the chemistry between Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King’s Prince Eric. I loved the added scenes that let audiences truly watch the two fall in love, which made it even more heartbreaking when Ursula wrapped her tentacles around their story. If you want to believe in magic and the power of true love, The Little Mermaid is the perfect Disney remake for you!
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