From charming to godawful: Ranking Disney live action remakes, according to Rotten Tomatoes

Since 1996, Disney has delighted (or disappointed) audiences with live action reimaginings of its classics. These films have become a staple of cinemas over the past few years, but with wildly inconsistent results, pre-opening review bombing, and controversies over casting, plot changes and the real definition of live action.

Nevertheless, Disney still endeavours to delight children and win back older audiences, time and time again. Here’s a look back at all the Disney live actions, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.

14. Pinocchio (2022)

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Described as “visually dazzling but soulless”, the 2022 rehash of Pinocchio failed to win over anyone, with a 27 per cent score from both critics and audiences. Though directed by Robert Zemeckis (director of childhood favourites like The Polar Express and Forrest Gump), the film seemed to struggle to justify why it was necessary.

Even a stellar cast including Tom Hanks and Cynthia Erivo couldn’t save this film… best to give it a skip.

13. 101 Dalmatians (1996)

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One of Disney’s first forays into live action reimaginings, you may well be surprised at how low this one ranks. Featuring an iconic performance by multi Oscar award nominee Glenn Close as the evil fashion diva determined to skin puppies for her clothes, alas the movie received a critic score of 39 per cent, and an audience score of 40 per cent.

Again, the movie was criticised for being “pointless”, as so many remakes are, but unlike others on this list, at least this film is remembered with some favourability, so perhaps time has given it a nostalgic air.

12. Snow White (2025)

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Perhaps you expected Disney’s latest live action movie to be this low, with a critics score of 40 per cent, but did you know that the audience rated it far more favourably, with a score of 73 per cent? Surprisingly high, for a movie plagued with such controversy.

It began with questions of the casting of Rachel Zegler, and then with criticism for her comments about updating the film for a modern audience. However, since its release, Rachel’s performance has been highly praised – and seems to be the only good thing about it.

Gal Gadot’s acting has been a source of great mockery for the film, whilst fresh controversy around the dwarves has arisen, as CGI characters were created, instead of casting actors with dwarfism a role in the movie. All in all, Disney’s probably ready to get this one over with.

11. Dumbo (2019)

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Dumbo has as much to recommend it as Pinocchio – a famous director, known for other childhood classics (this time Tim Burton, director of Edward Scissorhands) and an excellent cast (Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton and Danny Devito).

However, though faring a little better, the film still missed out on both audience and critical acclaim, with a critics score of 46 per cent, and an audience score of 47 per cent. The film was criticised for having an “overstretched story”, though did receive compliments on its visuals, and lead adorable baby elephant.

10. The Lion King (2019)

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Critics clearly didn’t feel the love tonight with the Lion King, with a critics score of only 51 per cent, though audiences felt far more warmly towards it, with the highest audience score so far of 88 per cent.

The film featured all the beloved songs of the original (though this time featuring Beyonce), and with a world wide box office of $1.657 billion, I’m sure Disney thought this was well worth the effort (prompting a sequel in 2024 that beat the rotten tomatoes score, but stumbled at the box office).

9. Maleficent (2014)

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Though not always considered a classic Disney princess remake as it instead focuses on rebranding the villain, as of yet Maleficent is the closest we have to a live action Sleeping Beauty. Though it has a low critic score of 54 per cent, again audiences liked it more, with a score of 70 per cent.

Angelina Jolie plays a woman wronged as the terrifying – though markedly less evil – Maleficent, with iconic cheekbones and outfit to match, and Elle Fanning as the adorable princess. Though it is neither the most faithful nor the most successful live action adaptation, it’s certainly worth a watch if you prefer the morally grey characters.

8. Aladdin (2019)

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With a lukewarm critics score of 57 per cent but a far higher audience score of 94 per cent, Aladdin certainly thrilled audiences. Praised for its spectacle – even if it doesn’t quite live up the spectacle of the original – and featuring new songs and an interesting performance by a blue Will Smith, it is one of the most popular of all the live action adaptations.

However, it was a strange choice to have a Disney princess movie, aimed at children, directed by Guy Ritchie, the famed British action director who also worked on The Gentlemen.

7. Peter Pan and Wendy (2023)

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The first on this list to have a critics score higher than an audience – and the margin is not small. Though critics were impressed – 65 per cent –  the audience score is by fare the lowest on this list with a pathetic 11 per cent.

Though this list of Disney live actions is ranked by the Rotten Tomatoes metric which prioritises critics over audiences, I still cannot recommend spending your Saturday night watching this, even with Jude Law as the villainous Hook.

6. The Lady and The Tramp (2019)

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You would be forgiven for missing the release of this one – in fact, I had no idea of its existence until it came time to write this article – and this, like the Lion King and the Jungle Book, stretches the definition of live action with its CGI protagonists.

Again, there is a gulf between the audience and critics scores, though not as wide as before – a reasonable critics scores of 67 per cent, and a measly audience score of 49 per cent, with a cast boasting Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux.

The film was described as “likeable…enough”, but as so many other adaptions, it failed to capture the magic of the original classic, so perhaps maybe stick with the animation this time.

5. The Little Mermaid (2023)

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Like the recent Snow White, The Little Mermaid faced racially motivated criticism of its casting of Halle Bailey as the titular character, and yet The Little Mermaid is one of the highest ranking live action adaptations, with specific praise for Halle’s performance and impressive vocals.

The critics scores is respectable at 67 per cent, with an even higher audience score of 94 per cent, tying for highest place with Aladdin (though I would recommend this one more). There is decent balancing of both CGI and live action (as much as possible for a movie partially taking place with mermaids under the sea), and overall this is a thoroughly enjoyable watch.

4. Beauty and the Beast (2017)

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One of Disney’s earliest remakes of their classic Disney princess movies, Beauty and the Beast struggled to quite capture the magic of its predecessor. However, it still has both good critic and audience scores (71 per cent and 80 per cent respectively) and features new songs and dazzling set pieces (albeit a largely CGI cast due to its talking houseware).

The ensemble cast features Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans and Emma Thompson, and is one of the most enjoyable of the adaptations – not a bad way to spend a quiet evening.

3. Mulan (2020)

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Mulan probably has the most changes to its animated source material, including the introduction of a new villain, and the removal of one of its most popular characters Mushu. Due to its release year, it did not garner the attention or box office numbers as others, and had controversies of its own, such as its filming locations and the cast’s comments on Hong Kong protests at the time.

However, it still ranks highly on Rotten Tomatoes with a critics score of 71 per cent, though the audience viewed it less favourably with a score of only 46 per cent.

2. Cinderella (2015)

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The first of the Disney princess classics to be adapted, Cinderella is by far one of the most popular with critics and audiences alike (scores of 84 per cent and 78 per cent respectively). Cinderella certainly captures the magic of its original source more than most of the others; maybe it’s the production design, maybe it’s the casting with Lily James, Richard Madden, and Cate Blanchett as a FABULOUS evil stepmother.

Or maybe it is just the stunning dress with three miles of thread and 250 metres of fabric (!!!). Whatever it is, if you want a Disney movie to cosy up to when your assignments are over, this is what I’d go for.

1. The Jungle Book (2016)

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Perhaps this may surprise you, but the victor of Disney live actions according to Rotten Tomatoes is not a Disney princess movie, and barley is a live action when you consider that only one character isn’t CGI. With an audience score of 86 per cent and an even better critics score of 94 per cent, The Jungle Book outstrips all others, described as “lovely to behold” and “engrossing to watch”.

The voice cast features Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, and Scarlett Johansson, as well as a terrific performance from Neel Sethi as Mowgli. In spite of its limited live action elements, the movie delivers emotional moments and is deserving of its high ranking in this list.