Because why did we turn “ The Lion King ” into a nature documentary ?

Ah,live-action remakes. It seems like re-imagining classic animated movies for the big screen is the number one priority for a lot of major studios these days, but that doesn’t make themany less divisive.

This summer alone, both theLilo & StitchandHow to Train Your Dragonremakes will hit theaters, and both have faced a ton of backlash before their releases. Ironically enough, theLilo & Stitchtrailersparked discourseafter viewers spotted some significant changes (RIP Pleakley’s bob), whereasHTTYDhad fans upsetafter it was revealed that the movie was pretty much going to bea shot-for-shot remakeof the original. Which begs the question: Why even remake the movie in the first place?

And as a lifelong animation girlie, I think both reactions are totally valid.To quotethe greatGuillermo del Toro, “Animation is a medium, not a genre.” However, I do think that there is an approach to reimagining these movies that completely works. So here’s a roundup of animated movies that walked so their live-action remakes could run and some remakes that tried to run but tripped and fell flat on their faces. Enjoy!

The ones that didn’t work…

1.The Lion King, 2019 — dir.Jon Favreau

2.Mulan, 2020 — dir. Niki Caro

3.Dumbo, 2019 — dir. Tim Burton

4.Lady and the Tramp, 2019 — dir. Charlie Bean

5.Pinocchio, 2022 — dir. Robert Zemeckis

6.Snow White, 2025 — dir. Marc Webb

The ones that did.

1.Cinderella, 2015 — dir. Kenneth Branagh

2.Maleficent, 2014 — dir. Robert Stromberg

3.Cruella, 2021 — dir. Craig Gillespie

4.The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, 2010 — dir. Jon Turteltaub

5.The Jungle Book, 2016 — dir. Jon Favreau

Article image

Two realistic lion characters lie on rocky terrain, with one lying down and the other standing. A small bird is nearby

Person in period armor holding a sword, ready for combat, with warriors in the background. Scene suggests a historical or fantasy battle setting

Elephant stands on a circus platform under a spotlight, surrounded by an audience in a dark tent

Two dogs sharing a romantic pasta dinner by candlelight, reminiscent of a classic movie scene

Animated character with a wooden puppet body joyfully speaking to a person holding an object, on a stone path

Person dressed in a fairy-tale costume, interacting with a small bird in a whimsical forest setting with animals in the background

A person in an elegant, flowing gown descends a grand staircase, surrounded by ornate decor and flowers

Person in fantasy costume with horned headdress and a staff, looking ahead with a confident expression

Person with dramatic hairstyle and bold makeup, wearing a textured outfit, looks intently to the side

Two men stand in a bustling, smoky nighttime street scene. One wears a long leather coat; the other is in casual layers, both with expressions of surprise

A boy in a red loincloth stands facing an enormous orangutan in a dimly lit, ancient temple setting