We’ve ranked the top five Disney live-action remakes of popular animated movies. This list doesn’t include sequels and movies based on animated characters. The rankings were based on each film’s Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes after the theatrical release of Dwayne Johnson’s live-action Moana, which now has a 35% RT score based on 80 reviews.
5 best Disney live-action remakes ranked by RT score
5) Beauty and the Beast (2017) – 71%
At number five is 2017’s musical fantasy remake of Beauty and the Beast, which starred Harry Potter vet Emma Watson as Belle and Downton Abbey alum Dan Stevens as the Beast. During its theatrical run, the film received a 71% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes and was also a blockbuster hit with a gross of over $1.2 billion. Many critics praised the remake’s lavish production and costume design, which effectively brought the classic animated movie’s world to life. Its star-studded supporting cast, including Luke Evans’ Gaston and Ewan McGregor’s Lumière, was also recognized for their captivating and entertaining performances. Meanwhile, some expressed disappointment over Watson’s autotuned singing. Even though they’ve loved how she portrayed Belle’s intelligence and bravery, her vocals during the musical numbers were distracting for some critics and fans.
4) Lilo & Stitch (2025) – 72%
The fourth place goes to Disney’s most recent billion-dollar hit, 2025’s live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. The sci-fi comedy film garnered a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while its Popcornmeter is significantly higher at 91%. Critics and fans praised the film for delivering a heartwarming and emotional adaptation that captures the original movie’s essence. Maia Kealoha’s acting debut as Lilo and Chris Sanders’ return as the voice of Stitch were also positively recognized by reviewers. Despite this, many still expressed disappointment over some of the creative team’s creative choices, particularly with Zach Galifianakis’ Jumba and Billy Magnussen’s Pleakley. Fans also didn’t appreciate the movie’s ending, which altered Nani’s decision from the original film.
3) Cinderella (2015) – 84%
Taking the third spot is Kenneth Branagh’s 2015 remake of Cinderella, which received an 84% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The live-action adaptation was a massive hit among critics and fans, who loved Lily James’ charming and genuine portrayal of Cinderella. Her chemistry with Richard Madden’s Prince Kit was effortless and magical. Cate Blanchett’s standout performance as the wicked stepmother was also considered one of the movie’s major highlights, along with the film’s extravagant and elegant costume design and production sets. The only main criticism that reviewers had was its predictable plot, as the creative team decided to stay faithful to the original animated classic.
2) Pete’s Dragon (2016) – 88%
Ranking second is David Lowery’s fantasy adventure film Pete’s Dragon, which was based on Disney’s 1977 musical fantasy of the same name. It currently holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unlike the original’s musical spectacle, the 2016 remake opted for a more grounded, visual, and sincere storytelling. Lowery was praised for his cinematic vision and direction that highlighted the film’s themes and endearing story. The ensemble cast’s performances were also widely commended, especially Oakes Fegley’s incredible portrayal of a young orphan boy who strikes up an unlikely bond with a dragon.
1) The Jungle Book (2016) – 94%
Claiming the title of Disney’s highest-rated live-action remake is Jon Favreau’s 2016 fantasy adventure film The Jungle Book. During its theatrical run, the movie garnered a Fresh score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was universally praised for its state-of-the-art visual effects, with critics describing its use of photorealistic CGI animation as a major cinematic milestone. Critics also raved about its star-studded ensemble cast, including Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Lupita Nyong’o, and Scarlett Johansson, for bringing the animal characters to life through their stellar voice performances. Others also acknowledged the creative team’s choice to make the story darker and more epic compared to the original movie, which definitely elevated Mowgli’s journey.
Originally written by Maggie Dela Paz at Coming Soon
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