Are We Seeing the Death of Disney Live-Action Remakes?

When Mickey Mouse makes a movie, you know it’ll be great. However, Disney live-action remakes have been hit or miss at the box office. In fact, recent flops have made the company question whether it should ever do them again. Will the trend stop completely? Here’s what you need to know. 

Are Disney Live-Action Remakes in Trouble? 

Disney set high expectations for “Snow White,” which entered theaters in March 2025. However, the movie has yet to meet the lofty expectations. So far, the movie has made about $200 million worldwide, which doesn’t exceed the mind-blowing budget it needed for production. The failure has people, especially at Disney, wondering whether these remakes are viable. 

The Snow White remake has been a unique failure due to certain casting and stylistic choices. For example, the producers made the seven dwarves supernatural instead of human beings. People with dwarfism criticized the Disney renderings and advocated for people to play the roles. 

Changing Minds on a Dime

The unfortunate “Snow White” flop has made The Walt Disney Company rethink its future live-action remakes. If you like movie dates with your spouse, don’t count on another Tangled movie. Reportedly, the next reiteration has been paused because of recent lackluster performances at the box office. 

Will the Tangled remake remain permanently paused? It depends on the future results. If this year’s live-action reboots go well, Disney could find an avenue to continue more in the future. Even if they proceed, the movie has an uphill climb. The first film came out in 2010, so it’s relatively new. How nostalgic will a crowd be for a flick that already has a CGI rendering?

Why Does Disney Make Live-Action Remakes? 

So, how did Disney get here in the first place? The filmmaking side of the company loves remakes because there’s already an established brand and name recognition. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Snow White before the 2025 film, so the company is counting on your nostalgia to get you to the box office. 

The same goes for films in other genres, such as thrillers and dramas. Just imagine if Paramount remade “Days of Thunder” with Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall. Do you know how many NASCAR fans would show up to watch Cole Trickle and the next chapter of his life? For Disney, it boils down to finding the right cast and crew for its live-action remakes. 

Success Examples

Don’t let “Snow White” fool you — reboots can receive solid box office numbers and positive reviews from critics. The best and most recent example is “The Lion King” from 2019, which received over $1.6 billion worldwide! With that kind of money, you can purchase a golf course or a pro sports team. 

After “The Lion King,” Disney re-upped the series with a “Mufasa” prequel and sequel. While it didn’t do as well as the 2019 film at the box office, it held its own and became one of the top-grossing films in 2024. So, why did these movies perform much better than “Snow White?” It could boil down to a few factors. 

The Disney Formula for Success

Judging which movies will succeed is challenging. If you can accurately project the numbers, there are a bunch of companies that would love your services. That said, recent history has demonstrated a formula to gauge how successful a Disney live-action remake will be. Ultimately, it boils down to how old the movie is. 

Older movies like “Snow White” may need help connecting to younger audiences because they’re less likely to have grown up with the 1937 film. Disney must ask itself how familiar the audiences are with the source material. Kids nowadays might not have access to a “Cinderella” or “Dumbo” DVD, so they might not appreciate the new creations.

Using More Familiar Ideas

Which movies are most likely to succeed? The feature films with more recent source material are the ones to bet on. “The Lion King” is just one example of a modern success, though there are plenty more to point to. While “The Little Mermaid” didn’t blow the box office out of the water in 2023, it was still more viable than “Snow White.”

Another recent successful example is “Aladdin” from 2019. The movie had high expectations based on the budget, but it eclipsed the billion-dollar mark at the box office.  “Aladdin” from 1994 is relatively recent, so parents and grandparents may have already shown the film to their kids. 

What Ideas Are on the Table?

Disney isn’t done with live-action remakes just yet. Here are four potential reboots that could turn the tide for the Mickey Mouse company.

1. Lilo and Stitch Remake

The big one is “Lilo and Stitch,” which will be released in May 2025. If it is successful, the likelihood of more reboots will go way up. Hopes are high for this animated film because of the original movie’s nostalgia. Hopefully, Stitch’s animation will look natural and won’t cause a Sonic-like debacle. 

2. Hercules Remake

Remember Hercules, the guy who evidently works on his biceps daily? A live-action reboot could be in the works. While it’s just speculation now, rumors suggest it’s in pre-production with the Russo brothers at the helm. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news in 2020, so expect more official announcements soon. 

3. Moana Remake

No rumors are necessary for “Moana,” as fans will get a live-action remake in 2016. It didn’t take long for this adaptation, considering the first one came out in 2016. This movie features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a producer, and he’ll reprise his role as Maui. Johnson confirmed the film’s existence back in 2016. 

4. Robin Hood Remake

Robin Hood has already had a few remakes, so another one may surprise some. Like “Hercules,” the Robin Hood reboot was reported in the spring of 2020. However, Mickey Mouse has been radio silent for the past few years. Will Disney continue its efforts for the movie? The last “Robin Hood” in 2018 flopped, so the next one must impress audiences. 

Judging Disney Live-Action Remakes Beyond the Box Office

It’s easy to look at the numbers and judge whether a movie succeeded. However, that doesn’t always tell the story. Some movies aren’t that good but still make hundreds of millions of dollars. When Disney films a live-action remake, it wants to see dollar signs. It may reconsider future strategies if it has more “Snow White” flops.