All 13 Disney live-action remakes ranked worst to best

(L-R): Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina), Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), and Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney's live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(L-R): Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina), Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), and Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney's live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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A FUTURE KING IS BORN – In Disney’s all-new “The Lion King,” Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. Featuring JD McCrary and Donald Glover as young Simba and Simba, “The Lion King” roars into U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019. ©2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
A FUTURE KING IS BORN – In Disney’s all-new “The Lion King,” Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. Featuring JD McCrary and Donald Glover as young Simba and Simba, “The Lion King” roars into U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019. ©2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

There have been some amazing Disney live-action remakes in recent years, but which of the films takes the top spot as the best of the best?

Disney’s decision to remake their classic animated movies into live-action films has proven to be a successful strategy, with the recent wave of remakes capturing the attention of audiences around the world. The Disney renaissance of remakes offers a fresh spin on timeless classics, providing fans with a new perspective on their favorite stories and characters.

One of the advantages of remaking these movies in live-action has been the ability to expand on the original stories and add new elements to the plot. The new movies often explore deeper themes and offer a more complex view of the characters, creating a more multi-dimensional portrayal of their stories and exploring facets the original movies didn’t have the chance to fully explore. The result is a fresh and exciting take on these classic tales that allows audiences to see them in a new light.

This Disney live-action renaissance of remakes has breathed new life into these beloved classics, offering fans a fresh perspective on stories we know and love. By reimagining these iconic tales in live-action, Disney is creating a new generation of fans while also paying tribute to the timeless legacy of their animated films.

The trend shows no signs of slowing down, with more live-action adaptations of classic Disney films set to hit theaters in the coming years. Just which of Disney’s live-action remakes has been the best so far? That’s the question we aim to answer ahead as we rank each of the studio’s live-action remakes from worst to best!

Note: While Disney has delivered some amazing live-action adaptations inspired by animated originals such as Cruella, Christopher Robins, and Maleficent, as well as some sequels to a few of its remakes, this list is only taking a look at Disney live-action remakes inspired directly by an animated movie meaning they closely follow key elements of their animated companion. We’re also only looking at modern remakes which is why you won’t see films like 1996’s 101 Dalmatians or 1994’s Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.