The Jungle Book and 6 other best-rated Disney live-action remakes

The latest Disney live-action remake, The Little Mermaid, has been garnering rave reviews. The movie has certainly got the cast right with popular actors like Halle Bailey winning hearts as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy slaying it as the evil witch Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton and Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, among others. Another live-action, Snow White, is in the making with 2024 as the projected release year. While Disney continues its romance with live-action remakes, here’s putting a spotlight on some of the highest-rated remakes.

The Jungle Book and 6 other best-rated Disney live-action remakes, according to Rotten Tomatoes

1. The Jungle Book (2016) – Apple TV

Rotten Tomato Score: 94%

The movie is a live-action remake of the 1967 eponymous animated film based on Rudyard Kipling’s novel. The movie follows a young orphan human infant, Mowgli (Neel Sethi), being raised by some friendly animals in the jungle. He grows under love and care and finds a family in the animal kingdom. A bear, Baloo, a black panther, Bagheera, and a wolf, Raksha, become his friend, mentor, and adoptive mother respectively. They protect him from the fearsome Sher Khan, a Bengal tiger. However, when his pack’s safety is at stake, Mowgli decides to leave the jungle for good and go to the human settlement. While navigating his way out of the forest, Mowgli encounters troublesome animals and reptiles who want to use him for their selfish needs. The movie boasts a star-studded voice cast featuring Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, and Christopher Walken among others.

2. Pete’s Dragon (2016) – Disney+Hotstar, YouTube

Rotten Tomato Score: 88%

The remake of the 1977 animated musical, Pete’s Dragon follows a young orphan boy, living in the forest away from the human world. His only friend is a dragon, Eliot, who saved him when he was an infant. Their happy, peaceful world is shattered when a group of lumberjack crew settles near the forest and starts chopping trees. When Pete is caught by the humans, Eliot goes searching for him and inadvertently reveals himself. The townspeople then unite to kill the dragon thinking he is dangerous with Pete risking it all to save his friend. The heart-warming tale leaves you teary-eyed at the predicament of the two friends. The only difference between the animated and the live-action is that this one isn’t a musical.

3. Cinderella (2015) – Disney+Hotstar, YouTube

Rotten Tomato Score: 86% 

Lily James steps in Cinderella’s shoes for this live-action remake of one of the most beloved Disney animated movies. Joining the cast is Helena Bonham Carter as the fairy godmother, Richard Madden as Prince Kit, and Cate Blanchett as Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, among others. The plot primarily follows Cinderella, who’s harassed by her stepmother and stepsisters. Her troubled life takes a fairytale turn when she dances with the Prince at the Royal Ball. The visually-stunning movie is a delight to watch with James’ impeccable performance as the lovely Cinderella.

4. Cruella (2021) – Disney+Hotstar, YouTube

Rotten Tomato Score: 75%    

Emma Stone headlines this origin story of one of the cruelest villains in Disney movies, Cruella de Vil. It is also the third live-action in the 101 Dalmatians franchise. The movie follows an aspiring fashion designer, Estella Miller (Stone), working for the Baroness’ coveted fashion house. Working her way up in the fashion house, Estella is often mistreated. One day, Estella finds the Baroness wearing her mother’s necklace. Upset with the lie that the Baroness tells her, Estella enlists help from her friends to steal it. Estella also creates an alter ego, Cruella, and takes the fashion world by storm with her elaborate and over-the-top ensembles. The Baroness diverts her attention to Cruella while Estella finds shocking secrets about her that upend her life forever. An intriguing storyline and commendable performances add to the overall experience.

5. Mulan (2020) – Disney+Hotstar, MX Player

Rotten Tomato Score: 72%

Yifei Lui stars in the title role with Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Gong Li, Jason Scott, and Yoson An among others joining in as the supporting cast. The plot chronicles the journey of Hua Mulan, who poses as a boy to take her ailing, warrior father’s place during a battle. With her archery skills and perseverance, she becomes a soldier in training and exposes her identity. The movie then focuses on the various roadblocks Mulan faces in gaining acceptance from her teammates. Mulan, however, proves her worth as a warrior in crisis and saves fellow soldiers when the enemy strikes. The action-packed movie keeps you hooked and makes you want to take up archery just like Mulan.

6. Christopher Robin (2018) – Disney+Hotstar, YouTube

Rotten Tomato Score: 72% 

The movie is inspired by the children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh and acts as the next part in the same franchise. The plot focuses on a now grown-up Christopher Robin, who has moved on from Hundred Acre Wood and his friends – Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Ro, and Kanga. He is married, has a daughter, works as a director in a company, and is forever busy. One day, when Pooh’s friends go missing, he visits Christopher to seek help. Together they travel to Hundred Acre Wood but Christopher feels exasperated and berates Pooh for his clumsiness. But, he later apologises to Pooh and helps him. The movie is a poignant tale of friendship and how some relationships are forever.

7. Beauty and the Beast (2017) – Disney+Hotstar, YouTube

Rotten Tomato Score: 71%

This visual stunner shows Emma Watson effortlessly transforming into Belle and Dan Stevens taking the Beast’s place. The plot follows Belle as she sets out to save her father from the Beast. She takes her father’s place at the Beast’s palace. Forced to live as a captive, Belle learns the Beast is the cursed Prince and an enchantment has turned his staff into talking inanimate objects. The two eventually fall in love. What follows next forms the crux of the story. There’s never a dull moment with Watson and Stevens offering a refreshing take on the beloved fairy tale.