Disney is no stranger to criticism, but in recent years, that criticism has only mounted, thanks to the company’s dedication to its live-action remakes. As of 2024, it has produced over 20 live-action films with no signs of stopping.
It’s hardly surprising why Disney continued producing them, The Lion King, Beauty and The Beast, and The Jungle Book remakes have claimed to be some of their most successful live-action remakes of all time, raking in millions of dollars in revenue since their releases. Additionally, there’s an audience for these movies who, despite the movie’s faults, have taken a liking to their direction.
Regardless, the critiques have persisted. While some have said that these remakes are the perfect chance to update the original stories for a more modern audience, or even explore them from different perspectives, many have claimed that these remakes lack originality.
Movieweb noted that these movies tend to over-rely on the nostalgia from the original movies. Adding on to the overreliance on CGI, these movies have been accused of a lack of creativity in their reinterpretations, often not going all the way in exploring new ideas and leaving these movies very underwhelming.
While Disney might have ignored these criticisms three years ago, recent months have proved otherwise. The backlash towards the Snow White and The Seven Dwarves remake was certainly a mixed bag, but it has exposed the frustrations many have with the direction the company is going in. Now, many fans believe that these remakes have lost what made the originals special, going way too far in deviations that leave them unrecognizable.
That frustration has bled into Disney itself, now from its highest position. Disney Studios’ new president David Greenbaum made comments revealing dissatisfaction at their live-action remakes in an interview with Pluck, questioning whether they needed to be made.
While it isn’t a death sentence to all live-action remakes, it certainly doesn’t mean that everything is in the clear. The pressure is mounting, and with the recent cancellation of The Sword in the Stone and Bambi remakes, the future isn’t looking as nearly as bright.
