Is Disney drowning under their live-action remakes?

In the wake of live-action Mulan’s less than stellar opening weekend on Sept. 11 at the box office, raking in $20 million less than analyst predictions, old Disney fanatics and new fans alike are all asking one question: should Disney stop making live-action remakes of their animated classics?

Following the backlash concerning Mulan lead actress Liu YiFei’s comments of support for the Hong Kong police, the controversial live action remake became available for streaming on Disney+ on Sept. 4 and hit mainland China theaters a week later. Besides the controversy surrounding Liu, critics berated the movie for poor character development, plot holes, and historical inaccuracy. The disappointing debut was accredited to piracy and early bad reviews.The live action remake also had substantial differences from its animated counterpart, mainly cutting out Mushu and the iconic song lineup in order to make the film more “historically realistic, '' according to the Daily Bruin. 

Disney’s history with remakes dates back to 1994 with “The Jungle Book” during the Disney Renaissance Era. Since then, Disney remade some of its most famous animations from its Silver and Renaissance Age with considerable success. Remakes were a sure-fire way for Disney to keep pumping out four-quadrant films, generating box office hits like “Cinderella” (2015; box office revenue of $200 million), “Beauty and the Beast” ( 2017; box office revenue of $500 million), and “The Lion King” (2019; box office revenue of $500). These remakes ushered in the Second Disney Renaissance (2010 - Present), giving them the capital to make new movies such as “Moana (2016)” and “Frozen (2013).” 

Junior David Diouf agrees that animated remakes bring in a sizable chunk of profit for Disney. “These movies bring in a heavy amount of revenue, because they mostly feature A-list celebrities. So the way I see it, there is a big financial incentive,” Diouf says. 

Live action v. Animated disney movies cover

Photo: Disney to continue releasing live-action remakes (courtesy of Disney)

Disney to continue releasing live-action remakes (courtesy of Disney)

Although the latest live-action movie “Mulan” did not live up to its promises, people are divided about whether or not Disney should keep remaking their animated movies. Diouf believes that remaking animated movies will eventually get old. “I feel as though Disney’s power lies in the fact that they create these unique stories that transcend generations. Remaking old movies can only bring them so far,” Diouf says. 

Critics agree with that idea, noting that Disney remakes aren’t good because they don’t have to be. “They all have the same problem: a robotic devotion to the animated film that came before it. Because of this, they’re less like movies and more like concerts, except you’re going to an arena to see a cover band, and they’re not even that good,” ScreenCrush’s John Speigel writes. 

Sophomore Aileen Qi, on the other hand, believes that Disney remakes can spur on feminism for younger generations. “Personally, I don’t think the live-action remakes are bad. My favorites would be Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, as they put an emphasis on female empowerment, which I think is a good thing,” Qi stated. 

Whether or not you believe live-action remakes are Disney’s perfect formula, Disney just released a multitude of future live-action remakes from Peter Pan to Snow White. The next remake rumored to hit the big screens is The Little Mermaid, with actress Hallie Bailey cast as Ariel.