Disney is not only known today for its animated and animated films, but also for live-action adaptations of its popular franchises. However, these are often seen as uncreative and criticized. In 1996, however, one adaptation showed how it should be done.
The great live-action hype from Disney. The era of Disney live-action remakes began back in 1994. At that time, The Jungle Book was released, a remake loosely based on the story of the 1967 animated film.
In 1996, 101 Dalmatians followed, and then in 2000, 102 Dalmatians as live-action remakes. After that, there was a long silence on such reboots until 2010 when the big upswing came, with Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland. From 2014 onwards, Disney was completely taken over. With Maleficent, they celebrated a big success, and then at least one new live-action remake followed every year.
The financial peak was reached by Disney’s remakes with The Lion King. According to Box Office Mojo, this film grossed nearly $1.7 billion worldwide (about €1.5 billion).
Despite the success, there is also criticism. Some of these remakes face criticism as well. Many of them are too close to the original films and bring nothing new. Others criticize that too much is changed and that the original spirit of the films is not maintained. For example, Mulan, which was already criticized for its pricing policy on Disney+, lacked the character of Mushu.
One film that changed a lot but is still popular with fans is called Cruella and features a strong performance by Emma Stone. As our colleagues at 3DJuegos point out, the first live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians was also a good live-action adaptation.
Disney also receives a lot of criticism for Star Wars: “Even Harry Potter is more Star Wars than this nonsense” – The latest Star Wars from Disney sets a negative record
Disney delivered a good remake as early as 1996
Which remake has been good from the start? In the field of Disney live-action adaptations, Rachel Cervantes from 3DJuegosespecially praises the now relatively unknown remake of 101 Dalmatians from 1996. She names several reasons for this:
- Cruella De Vil was well portrayed by Glenn Close
- One knew she was evil just through her design and appearance
- They did not try to give her a complex backstory
- She was depicted as she is: a smoker who loves furs and would even sacrifice dogs
Cervantes especially praises that the film maintains the core idea of the animated original while still trying to introduce something of its own. According to her, the film was the perfect balance between remaining “true to the spirit” while still adding something new.
What remakes are still coming? Despite their criticism, Disney’s reboots are still successful. Accordingly, there are also many remakes and adaptations still to come. Next, we can expect Mufasa (2024), Snow White (2025), Lilo and Stitch (2025), and Moana (2025).
What does MeinMMO film editor Nikolas Hernes say about the Disney remakes? The Disney reboots have two sides. One, where there is an attempt to adapt something one-to-one, and another, where changes are attempted. Personally, I don’t need the exact adaptation. I could just watch the more charming animated films instead.
A remake with changes and new ideas I find much more interesting, even if some things can go wrong. The cinema is already full of remakes, so one should at least try to shake up the familiar a bit. Especially with the iconic villains, Disney seems to want to do more: After successful books, series, and films, Disney’s villains are getting their own villain land
