List of Best Disney Live-Action Remakes

Disney live-action remakes

If you are a true Disney fan, then nothing could be better than watching the live-action remakes. The entertainment giant is bringing back the beloved characters to live-action remakes to entertain the fans. Here is an article with Disney live-action remakes you must watch to stay in touch with your childhood selves.  

Disney has remade various classic movies, and most of them have received amazing reviews. Now you must be thinking, which are the best Disney live-action movies? There are a lot of best Disney movies, which makes it difficult to find out the right ones. So we have made a list for you. 

Best Disney Live-Action Remakes

The Jungle Book (2016)

IMDb – 7.4/10

Director – Jon Favreau

Writers – Rudyard Kipling, Justin Marks

Star Cast – Bill Murray, Neel Sethi, Ben Kingsley

The Jungle Book has been remade twice, and both the time it was a big success. The success clearly reflects how amazing the story is. The movie rotates around a little man-cub named Mowgli. He is raised by a family of wolves and other animals in the jungle. After a threat from Sher Khan (tiger) to flee away from the forest, he embarks on a journey to discover himself. In his journey, he takes help from free-spirited bear Baloo and panther Bagheera. Along the way, he learns amazing and valuable lessons of life, which makes his journey adventurous and fun. 

Cinderella (2015)

IMDb – 6.9/10

Director – Kenneth Branagh

Writers – Charles Perrault, Chris Weitz

Star Cast – Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett

It is one of the best Disney remakes and is a must-watch for every fairy tale fan. In this movie, after the unexpected death of her father, young Ella starts living at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and irritating stepsister. Her stepmother makes her live in poor conditions, but she never loses hope. After bad conditions, she refuses to give up. One day she meets a charming stranger, and her fortune begins to change. She meets her fairy godmother, who helps her to meet the love of her life. So, will she be able to meet the prince? Watch the movie to find out. 

Mulan (2020)

IMDb – 5.4/10

Director – Niki Caro

Writers – Rick Jaffa, Alizabeth Martin, Lauren Hynek, Amanda Silver

Star Cast – Yifei Liu, Li Gong, Donnie Yen

If you love classic movies with a depth and touch of action, then this Disney action movie is for you. The live-action Mulan is an amazing movie and visual marvel. In the movie, the young Mulan disguises as a warrior to save her ailing father from his job in the Imperial Arm. The heroic girl fights a battle with the northern invaders in China. 

Christopher Robin (2018)

IMDb – 7.3/10

Director – Marc Forster

Writer – A.A. Milne, Ernest Shepard

Star Cast – Ewan McGregor, Bronte Carmichael, Hayley Atwell

We all grew up watching our favorite show, Winnie-the-Pooh bear. In the show, a young boy Christopher Robin used to have fun with his friend Pooh, Tigger, and Piglet. So what happened when Robin grew up? 

In this Disney remake, Robin is a family man. He receives a visit from his childhood friend Pooh. With the help of Robin, Pooh goes on a journey to find his other friends Tigger, Piglet, Roo, Kanga, Owl, and Eeyore. Once reunited, they all travel to London to help Robin rediscover the fun of life. 

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

IMDb – 7.1/10

Director – Bill Condon

Writer – Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulous, 

Star Cast – Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Dan Steven

Starring Emma Watson, Beauty and the Beast is one of the best Disney live-action adaptations. The remake of the classic story had a lot of pressure to be remade right. The movie portrays the story of young, beautiful, and independent Belle. She is taken as a prisoner by a beast. Instead of her fears, the young lady befriends the enchanted staff of the castle. Moreover, she befriends the beast and looks beyond his cruel exterior, which allows her to recognize her loving soul and kind heart. She discovers the soul of a kind prince that is inside the body. Finally, she also helps the prince to break the curse. 

Lady and the Tramp (2019)

IMDb – 6.3/10

Director – Charlie Bean

Writer – Kari Granulund, Andrew Bujalski

Star Cast – Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Sam Elliott

Lady and the Tramp is another best Disney live-action remake, which is an amazing remake of the 1955 animated classic. The movie tells the story of an upper-middle cocker spaniel called Lady. She falls in love with a street-smart schnauzer named Tramp. With Tramp, Lady embarks on her journey on many adventures and discovers the true meaning of love. It was the first movie that debuted on Disney+ and not in theaters. It is an amazing dog-filled fairytale you must watch. 

Aladdin (2019)

IMDb – 7.0/10

Director – Guy Ritchie

Writer – John August, Guy Ritchie

Star Cast – Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Will Smith

We all have heard the magical story of Aladdin. The entertainment giant had a lot of pressure to perfectly remake the classic movie. The story revolves around the street urchin Aladdin who frees a wisecracking, powerful, and larger-than-life genie from his lamp. Soon Aladdin and genie start becoming friends, and they embark their journey on the mission to stop cruel and evil sorcerer Jafar from spoiling the kingdom of young princess Jasmine. 

Maleficent (2014)

IMDb – 7.0/10

Director – Robert Stromberg 

Writer – Linda Woolverton, Charles Perrault

Star Cast  Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning

Starring the beautiful Angelina Jolie, it is one of the best live-action Disney remakes. We all have heard the story of “Sleeping Beauty.” In the story, an evil fairy who cursed a princess for sleeping until she gets a kiss of true love. So what happened with the princess? And who cursed her?

Maleficent is the story of a pure heart woman who lived an idyllic life in the forest. However, after terrible betrayal from a kind, she hardens her heart and curses the newborn daughter of the king. Late on, she starts loving the child as her own. So, will Maleficent be able to break the curse? 

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

IMDb – 6.6/10

Director – Joachim Ronning 

Writer – Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster

Star Cast –  Angelina Jolie, Harris Dickson, Elle Fanning

This movie is a sequel to the 2014 global hit, maleficent. This part revolves around Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora. Maleficent travels to a big kingdom and its castle to celebrate the wedding of her daughter to Prince Philip. There she meets the evil queen who plans to destroy the fairyland and magical forest. With the intent to stop the Queen and save the kingdom, Maleficent joins forces with a group and outcasts to fight the queen and her army. 

Dumbo (2019)

IMDb – 6.3/10

Director – Tim Burton 

Writer – Ehren Kruger, Helen Aberson

Star Cast – Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton

Dumbo is one of the best Disney live-action remakes, also one of the amazing Disney live-action adaptations. In this movie, a struggling circus owner enlists a former star and his two kids to take care of Dumbo, a newborn elephant. When they find out that the elephant can fly, it becomes the main attraction, which brings a huge audience and helps the circus to grow again.

The magical ability of the elephant also attracts an entrepreneur who wants to present Dumbo in his large entertainment venture. While this Disney remake is not as colorful as the original one, trust me, you are gonna like it.   

Lion King (2019)

IMDb – 6.9/10

Director – Jon Favreau 

Writer – Jeff Nathanson, Irene Mecchi

Star Cast – Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Beyonce

The story of Simba is still one of the most successful animated movies in history, and the live-action remake of this version is also a treat to watch. In the movie, Simba idolizes King Mufasa (his father) after his death and embarks on a journey to the plains for Africa to find the hero in him. But not everyone celebrates his arrival. When he grows up, he decides to take revenge for his father’s death, which leads to a war between him and his uncle. Now watch the movies to find out will Simba be able to win the kingdom?

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

IMDb – 6.4/10

Director – Tim Burton 

Writer – Linda Woolverton, Lewis Carroll 

Star Cast – Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter

A young girl who once visited the magical kingdom of Underland in her childhood has no memories of the magical place except in her dreams. But one day accidentally, she returns to the kingdom. She reunites with her friends, the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and others. Here she learns that her destiny is to end the reign of the cruel Red Queen. Will she be able to do it?

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

IMDb – 6.2/10

Director – James Bobin

Writer – Lewis Carroll, Linda Woolverton 

Star Cast – Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter

This time Alice returns to the magical world of Underland to help her friend Mad Hatter. She finds herself in the kingdom with the Cheshire Cat, the White Queen, and others after slipping through a mirror. Her friends tell her that her friend Mad is in a funk due to the loss of his family. In order to travel to the past to save her friend, Alice tries to steal Chronosphere from Time. There she again encounters the cruel Red Queen and younger Hatter. 

Final Words

Disney has remade various classic movies over the past few years and is working to remake more. These movies are a perfect entertainment package if you are looking for something light-hearted. Now grab some healthy snacks, sit on your couch, and spend your weekend enjoying these best Disney live-action remakes. 

Rashmi