Everyone knows that we live in the age of endless remakes, sequels, and reboots. It’s just the nature of the entertainment business right now, because that is what’s making money. However you might feel about that (I don’t particularly feel good about it), it doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
One of the big trends over the past decade or so has been live-action remakes of previously animated films or shows. After all, what could be better than seeing a colorful, gorgeous piece of animation brought to dreary life with all the CGI you could ever ask for? Truly a net positive for the creative world. Sarcasm aside, though, some of these live-action adaptations have worked quite well, even better than I would have expected. On the other hand, others have been complete misfires. But that’s just how it goes in Hollywood.
Good: How to Train Your Dragon
Watch How to Train Your Dragon on Peacock
I will admit that I was very resistant to the idea of a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. The animated trilogy is pretty much the definition of perfection. Gorgeous, breathtaking colors and surprising emotional depth run deep in the veins of each film. A live-action version could never hope to achieve that.
I’m okay admitting that I was wrong. Not only is How to Train Your Dragon one of the better live-action remakes, it’s easily one of the most exciting fantasy films of 2025. Not only does it retain the wonderful color scheme and style of the animated films, but it also captures the heart that makes those films so special. Plus, the action sequences of riding a dragon set against a backdrop of live-action scenery just makes sense. I’ve never been more excited to be wrong, because the live-action How to Train Your Dragon rules.
Bad: Aladdin
Watch Aladdin on Disney+
I’ve watched the live-action Aladdin remake three times now, and I still can’t tell you why it exists. It lacks the fun of the animated version; certain scenes look like they were clearly shot on a soundstage, and no one in the cast, other than Will Smith, appears to be having any sort of fun whatsoever.
Sure, some of the visual spectacle is pretty to look at, but director Guy Ritchie seems like he’s out of his element here. He knows how to construct a fun action scene, but when it comes to crafting unique characters that still feel like their animated counterparts, it all falls a little flat. Some of the added plot elements are a nice touch, but I just never felt emotionally attached to any of them. But hey, it made a billion dollars at the box office, so clearly others loved it.
Good: The Jungle Book
Watch The Jungle Book on Disney+
Unlike director Jon Favreau’s live-action remake of The Lion King (which, if it were not live-action, would bein the bad section), which felt lifeless and dull, the director’s take on The Jungle Book is a lot of fun. In fact, I think it improves on the animated version in many ways. It’s an emotional, heartfelt tale with CGI that still looks a lot better than most of the live-action remakes that followed it.
Additionally, the voice cast is exceptional, and it’s clear that everyone is having a great time. From Bill Murray and Idris Elba to Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson, The Jungle Book spares no expense. And none of it feels gimmicky either. Favreau had a clear vision for what he wanted, and he delivered. Plus, there’s something about seeing the jungle in live-action form that only adds to the wonder.
Bad: Dumbo
Watch Dumbo on Disney+
I’m genuinely shocked by how much I disliked this version of Dumbo. It has all the ingredients needed to be good: Tim Burton behind the camera, an excellent cast of A-listers like Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito, and a rich piece of source material to pull from. But nothing ever really comes together.
The tonal shifts from dreary and depressing to suddenly funny and heartwarming did not work for me, and the characters do not feel richly constructed. The title character looks great, and I was invested in that little elephant’s story, but everything around him just feels so darn depressing and off-putting. I was looking for a feel-good movie, but instead, all I got was a live-action remake that didn’t know what kind of film it wanted to be.
Good: Speed Racer
Rent or buy Speed Racer on Amazon Prime Video
When it was released in 2008, Speed Racer was not exactly warmly received, but I think it was far ahead of its time. In fact, it’s become a big cult classic over the years, with some even calling it one of the Wachowskis’ best films, and it’s easy to see why. Speed Racer is zany, weird, and filled with colorful scenery that borders on the surreal.
It’s everything I could have ever wanted from a live-action anime adaptation. What annoys me about other remakes of animated films is that they rarely have the courage to embrace what made the source so engaging. Speed Racer has no such qualms, and it’s helped by a cast that is just as willing to get silly and weird as the Wachowskis. I’m glad that the film has started to get the recognition it so rightly deserves.
Bad: Pinocchio
Watch Pinocchio on Disney+
I actually think this might be the worst live-action remake that Disney has ever produced, which is saying a lot. Like Dumbo, it has all the ingredients it needs to work. The legendary Robert Zemeckis takes up directing duties, Tom Hanks steps into the role of Geppetto, and the supporting cast is also top-notch. But it’s all so lifelessly constructed, like everyone involved is simply going through the motions or only there for the paycheck.
Nowhere in its runtime does Zemeckis come close to capturing the brilliance he did in films like Back to the Future or Who Framed Roger Rabbit? There’s no emotional depth, and the characters feel like caricatures of what came before, not distinct or original. What made it even worse is that the brilliant Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was also released the same year, and this live-action monstrosity didn’t even come close to its level of care and ambition.
Live-action remakes are here to stay
Whether good or bad, live-action remakes are likely here to stay for the long haul. They keep making a lot of money, and the brand recognition is easy for studios to get behind. While that idea doesn’t exactly thrill me, at least some of them are worth watching. Maybe we can get some quality filmmaking out of it, if nothing else. If you’re on the lookout for more disappointing remakes, check out these six film-to-TV adaptations that failed miserably.
