Disney is one of the most influential companies worldwide. With all the channels it streams on, merchandise it sells, and the parks it owns, it’s hard to miss its presence. However, the studio is mostly known for its incredible, authentic stories that many kids, teens, and even adults have grown up watching.
Recently, however, it seems Disney has lost its magic and originality—instead of creating new stories, it is retelling old ones through unwatchable live-action versions. While it is possible for live-action adaptations to be good, Disney rarely hits that mark. Their remakes often end up dull, boring, and shallow attempts to “modernize” the originals.
For example, in Mulan (2020), the creators removed many of the elements that made the original movie enjoyable, such as various songs and the beloved character Mushu. Mulan (1998) was an entertaining and inspirational film with themes of perseverance, family, and women’s rights, but it was replaced with a Mary Sue swinging a sword for two hours.
Another disappointing movie was Aladdin (2019), where Disney removed the personalities of Iago, Abu, and the magic carpet, as well as messed up Jasmine’s character. In the original 1992 version, Jasmine is a relatable character who desires the freedom to make her own decisions. In the remake, however, she’s portrayed as a more “modern” woman that comes across as a power-hungry, sultan-wannabe drama queen who disrespects everyone in her vicinity.
Lastly, the worst one in my opinion is Lilo and Stitch (2025). This movie somehow manages to make Hawaii, one of the most desirable vacation spots, look inhabitable. Disney turned Stitch, a supposedly cute dog-like alien, into a horrid CGI gremlin. The remake also left out many of the scenes that showcased Nani and Lilo’s connection, such as when Nani overhears Lilo wishing for a friend and takes her to an animal shelter, or when Nani loses her job because of Lilo and makes up a lie so Lilo wouldn’t feel bad. Without these moments, the movie feels shallow and emotionally empty.
Additionally, not every movie can be turned into a live action, no matter how good the plot is. For example, the 2019 remake of The Lion King is essentially a CGI animation that follows identical looking lions with little to no facial expressions. Another example can be found in Beauty and the Beast (2017), with the “realistic” look of Lumiere and Cogsworth destroying their overly demonstrative personalities that made them loved in the original.
All that being said, not all live-actions are horrible. For example, Cinderella (2015), deepens Cinderella’s character, replacing her original doormat personality with a strong, relatable character. The movie also expands on Cinderella’s relationship with the Prince and her family. Other successful live-actions are Maleficent (2014) and Cruella (2021), which offer new perspectives from the villains while still paying homage to the original stories.
With the average live-action being so poorly made, it’s hard to understand why Disney continues putting them out. The only plausible answer seems to be money. Many people, hoping to relive their childhoods, rush to watch these movies, bringing massive profit to Disney. In fact, the method has proven extremely effective—according to The New York Times, the recent Lilo and Stitch remake was one of the most profitable films in years, earning around $1 billion and even surpassing the original’s profits.
It is heartbreaking to see a beloved movie studio, one that has produced some of the best movies of all time, now creating low-effort, horrible-quality productions. Seeing the live-action trailer of Moana made me so disappointed in what is to come for Disney. Film companies, especially ones as renowned as Disney, should put more effort into their productions and make movies because of their love for storytelling, not because of profit.
