There are plenty of remakes Disney might focus on in the wake of differences between the Snow White remake and the original, another controversy that managed to get its legs under it before the movie even had a trailer. In short, this movie has had a rough ride.

But with that said, it’s only natural that a remake would make certain changes to Snow White’s story. Remakes are unnecessary if their only goal is to cover already trodden ground. And keeping that in mind, there are several movies that Disney could revisit while revising them for a more modern audience. Some of them are unquestionably classic films, but there are also a few less popular contenders that might benefit from the live-action remake treatment.

10 Tangled (2010)

The Biggest 3-D Animated Classic

Disney already had plans to remake Tangled, but those plans are looking questionable now that Disney put Tangled on hold in the wake of Snow White’s box office failure. However, there’s every reason to go ahead and push this movie forward. First of all, almost nothing about Tangled’s story or casting would invite the same amount of controversy as Snow White. Second, the movie itself lends fairly well to the concept of a live-action remake.

It's actually pretty timely, considering the fan theory that Tangled’s Gothel is secretly Snow White’s Evil Queen. But, more importantly, Tangled tells a character-driven narrative that could easily be expanded with a few Oscar-bait songs and an extended runtime. Almost nothing from Tangled would need to be cut to translate the movie into a new medium, and the dynamic between Flynn and Rapunzel would be a joy to witness. On paper, it should be almost impossible for Disney to fail this remake.

9 Bolt (2008)

Everyone Loves A Good Dog Story

There are a few reasons that a live-action Bolt might be a hard sell, but they can all be summed up by saying that it’s a bit like pitching The Incredible Journey to someone who’s only ever seen Homeward Bound. But the titular Bolt is almost inarguably one of the best movie dogs, and his human’s despair at his disappearance would play incredibly well onscreen. Literally, the only issue is that Disney would have to decide between making another “live-action” cartoon or using real animals, either of which would drastically change the film’s general tone.

One thing the movie has going for it is that it’s often considered one of the best Miley Cyrus movies, which means a remake would definitely warrant a cameo. She might be too old to play Bolt’s human now, but having Miley Cyrus appear as an antagonist could really benefit the film. Miley’s been very open about her disdain for the entertainment industry at large, a theme the movie already rubs up against. Having her appear while hitting that theme a little bit harder could make for both an enjoyable and rather meaningful film narrative.

8 The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

An Unexpected Yet Plausible Hit

Outside of The Three Caballeros, there wasn’t much Latin representation in Disney for decades until Coco and Encanto. Now that it appears the studio has realized this deficit, there’s no better time to bring back The Emperor’s New Groove. Latin viewers would likely debate whether this movie counts since it takes place during the Incan empire, but one thing certain is that the original film included virtually no Latin representation whatsoever. David Spade, John Goodman, and the ever-welcome Patrick Warburton helped skyrocket that movie into the zeitgeist. But none of those actors scream “Incan” at first glance.

Setting a live-action remake in a pre-Colombian era and casting appropriate actors would be a good move for Disney. Many of those who have review-bombed their previous remakes over casting issues often claim that their primary issue is historical accuracy. This is a rare case in which race-blind casting would ultimately prove historically accurate, and it wouldn’t hurt the movie whatsoever. The movie might not feel the same without Eartha Kitt and Wendie Malick, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a hit while propelling new talent into the public eye.

7 The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Only Controversial Because Of One Word

There’s actually been buzz for a while about a live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but nothing’s come of that thus far. It doesn’t help that language has evolved somewhat since the original film was released, so it’s no longer acceptable to refer to Esmerelda as a gypsy. That puts the movie in a very weird place, since it also likely wasn’t considered a slur at the time the film is set. Ultimately, they can’t acknowledge the word as offensive without breaking the timeline.

However, there are still plenty of reasons it would be fun to see a live-action Hunchback movie. Firstly, there are numerous Hunchback fan theories that an extended film could explore, such as the idea that Quasimodo was based on a real person from 19-century Italy. That kind of idea doesn’t work for movies like The Little Mermaid because nobody wants to watch Eric fall in love with a manatee. But for a movie like this, drawing on real life could bring a lot of extra nuance to the film.

6 Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Fans Have Wanted To See This For A While

One big problem with a lot of recent Disney remakes is that many take place in very few locations, and that’s intrinsically uninteresting to watch with an extended runtime. But while some consider Atlantis: The Lost Empire one of Disney’s weirdest movies, there’s almost no argument that Disney’s Atlantis is a film that takes its viewers on a bona fide adventure. Seeing that play out with real actors could make for one heck of a ride.

The remake could even include some plot points from Disney’s canceled Atlantis sequel if it needs to hit some original story beats. The original already stands on its own, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one of few Disney movies besides Bolt and Toy Story to receive a decent video game adaptation. Drawing from extra content could only make the newer version that much better by association.

5 Treasure Planet (2002)

It’s Almost Impossible To Do This One Wrong

There aren’t technically a lot of similarities between Atlantis and Treasure Planet, but the two movies often get lumped together by fans of Disney’s more obscure offerings. Treasure Planet is a unique take on a literary classic, and there are almost no scenes in the movie that wouldn’t translate well to a live-action adaptation. If Disney were to remake it, hordes of loving fans would rush to the theater to relive the joy of watching Arrow’s horrific murder. There are also a number of fans who’d love to see a live-action Amelia.

Interestingly enough, there actually have been occasional rumors about a potential live-action Treasure Planet remake. Unfortunately, rumors are exactly what they’ve always been. As of now, Disney themselves have never actually addressed the idea of remaking Treasure Planet. But it’s worth noting that the bulk of their misfires have largely centered on their princess movies. A swarthy, space-faring adventure might be just the antidote they need.

4 The Princess And The Frog (2009)

Silence Disney’s Haters For Once And Forever

It’s been a sad reality for years that 90% of online references to The Princess and the Frog are made by people who’ve decided to fume over Disney hiring non-white actors for their live-action films. And because The Princess and the Frog takes subtle digs at segregation, those people are technically right that it’s pretty much impossible to make the movie as powerful if they change the races of the characters. But that’s also a very unique situation. Either way, Disney’s haters lose the ability to make theoretical arguments if the movie’s already been released in real life.

But this isn’t just about winning a petty war against review bombers. Disney kind of owes Tiana some love at this point, especially after Disney+ canceled Tiana’s sequel series. Tiana’s essentially become the most underrepresented Disney princess since Pocahontas, and the fact that hordes of Redditors keep mocking her specifically for her race just serves to underline why that’s a problem. And considering she spends enough time out of her own skin that you could cut a trailer without showing that she’s Black at all, it seems even more egregious that Disney hasn’t taken more chances on her.

3 Meet The Robinsons (2007)

A Great Family Film With Some Excellent Sci-Fi

There’s been a pretty large clamoring for a Meet the Robinsons sequel for years since the movie was first released, and it’s been long enough that we can probably assume that isn’t going to happen. But a live-action remake would be just as good, if not better. And the best part is that a Meet the Robinsons remake could likely get away with using a lot of the same cast. Adam West sadly couldn’t be included, but many others could.

Actors like Treasure Planet’s Laurie Metcalf, Nicole Sullivan, Harland Williams, Tom Selleck, and Angela Bassett could all appear, even if some have to take new roles. And there’s an argument to be made that Meet the Robinsons reusing actors wouldn’t feel as gimmicky as it did in The Lion King, solely because the movie’s a little less iconic. Not yet, anyway. Give us a live-action sci-fi adventure with a host of memorable characters, and that movie will become iconic overnight. Plus, since Meet the Robinsons is full of hidden details, a live-action expansion could make room to add even more.

2 Hercules (1997)

It Can Succeed Where Mulan Failed

After years of audiences complaining that Disney’s live-action remakes felt too similar to the original movies, Mulan flopped like a dead fish because it didn’t feel similar enough to the original movie. But if you want to remake a Disney classic while paying tribute to the original myth, Hercules is the way to go. Between the original myth and the little-known Disney Hercules sequel, a live-action Hercules remake has almost endless material from which to build an engaging story. Show him becoming an Argonaut, and that alone buys the obligatory extended runtime for a live-action remake.

It would also be fun for the sake of casting alone. Although Meg isn’t an official Disney princess, she’s certainly a bombshell of a character. Does Disney cast someone who looks like her animated counterpart, or do they appease those complaining about historical accuracy by casting someone who looks more Mediterranean? And there’s a long list of men who could arguably play Herc, which would make for a fun casting choice of its own. Disney remakes are sometimes criticized as feeling soulless, but they’d really have to pull out all the stops to make that a complaint for Hercules.

1 The Black Cauldron (1985)

Disney Might Benefit From A Bit Of Darkness

Disney has one movie so obscure that its princess has become a heroine among hipsters, probably due in part to the fact that nearly killed Disney with how badly it tanked. It gained something of a cult following and an objectively awesome Sierra game, but The Black Cauldron didn’t even make half its production budget at the box office, making it one of the worst flops in Disney history.

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Disney's Darkest Classic Movie Proves Where Its Remakes Are Going Wrong

Disney's live-action remakes have generally been met with a mixed reception, but one forgotten classic proves where they're going wrong.

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That said, the movie also contains one of the best Disney villains and a rather unique story about a boy who really loves his pig and slightly loves saving the world from everlasting doom. And up-and-coming Kathryn Newton is pretty much a shoo-in to play Eilonwy and solidify her as a real Disney princess. While some might criticize movies like Snow White for allegedly not respecting the classics, Disney could do great things by revisiting movies that performed poorly. The Black Cauldron, as dark as it is, would be the perfect place to start.

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Snow White

PG

Family

Fantasy

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3.5/10

Release Date

March 21, 2025

Runtime

109 Minutes

Director

Marc Webb

Cast

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  Rachel Zegler

  Snow White
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  Gal Gadot

  Evil Queen

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A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The film follows Snow White as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs to elude her jealous stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is threatened by Snow White's suring beauty.

Writers

Erin Cressida Wilson, Wilhelm Grimm

Producers

Callum McDougall, Marc Platt

Main Genre

Fantasy

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