3 Underrated Disney Live-Action Remakes That Prove Their Potential

Despite what people believe about them, there are some incredibly underrated Disney live-action remakes that show just how good they can be. For the past decade, there have been many remakes by Disney that have brought their animated classics to live-action. Many fans tend to dismiss them, but they actually have a ton of potential.

Live-action remakes have the capability of exploring new angles to iconic stories. Whether it’s slightly adjusting some details from the original or expanding on an idea to breathe new life into the story, Disney’s remakes have a chance to impress audiences. With the new Moana remake trailer recently dropping, it’s a great time to look at Disney’s most underrated remakes.

Aladdin (2019)

This 2019 remake of the classic ’90s film had a ton to live up to when it was first announced. Robin Williams’ role as the Genie is iconic, and with Will Smith taking the reins, it made many fans wary. Fortunately, this remake proved itself to be a fun successor to the original.

What makes Aladdin such a blast is not just the faithful recreations of the songs, but also the newer additions. Will Smith as the Genie is a delightful surprise as he brings his own flair to the role. His rendition of “Friend Like Me” is a standout as he follows a similar melody but adds his own style to it.

Plus, with the film featuring talented performances by Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as Aladdin and Jasmine, this live-action remake turned out to be a total surprise that stands among Disney’s best. It’s not as good as the 90s classic, but it’s a good remake in its own right.

Pete’s Dragon (2016)

While most Disney live-action remakes tend to stay in line with the original’s story, 2016’s Pete’s Dragon took a different approach. Rather than being a full-blown musical featuring a hand-drawn animated dragon, it became a fantasy film about a boy harboring a secret friendship. It’s essentially a new take on E.T., but it works in this underrated film’s favor.

The tone of the Pete’s Dragon remake is absolutely charming. Pete himself is a likable and empathetic character as he struggles with adapting to his new life following the death of his parents.

Whenever Elliot the Dragon is on-screen, he adds a layer of whimsy that makes this an endearing fantasy tale. This film has become fairly forgotten after a decade, but it’s worth a look back at on Disney+.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Often considered the golden standard for Disney live-action remakes, 2016’s The Jungle Book is a remarkable recreation of the classic 60s film. In fact, it’s often considered better than the original, which is even justified by its exceptional Rotten Tomatoes score.

What makes this remake work is how much it expands upon the original film. The Jungle Book from 1967 had a remarkably short runtime filled with musical numbers, making it difficult to develop certain characters due to lack of time.

The remake adds half an hour to the original, allowing for the film to explore its characters more in-depth, including Shere Khan, who has a much more threatening presence.

Plus, this is a film that still delights fans of the original film by keeping most of the musical numbers with a swinging beat. There’s a lot to love about this film, and it does a ton right to make it one of the best Disney live-action remakes.