Netflix and Disney both had competing Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio and Disney's live-action Pinocchio adding to this illustrious character's filmography in 2022.
Why Netflix and Disney can both have Pinocchio movies on the release slate for 2022 boils down to the character's rights being in the public domain. While it is true that Pinocchio is among the characters most closely associated with Disney, Collodi's original literary work was published before 1927, making it fair game for any studio looking to adapt the classic tale. Furthermore, Pinocchio creator Collodi died in 1890, meaning Pinocchio also transferred into the public domain in 1960, a full 70 years after the author's death per literary public domain regulations. Here's the difference between both 2022 Pinocchio movies, and why the same story has been adapted twice in the same year.
Netflix And Disney Have Very Different Pinocchio Takes
It is not hyperbole to claim that Disney made the original Pinocchio's popularity what it is today, with the 1940 animated film still holding a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many believe that Pinocchio represents the pinnacle of Disney's continually heartwarming and magical works, containing a perfect blend of fear, adventure, heart, and ambition that conspire to make it one of the greatest animated movies of the 20th and 21st centuries.
As such, it is easy to see why Disney feels compelled to revisit the scene of arguably their greatest triumph, with their latest live-action remake hitting the screen this past September. Back To The Future director Robert Zemeckis added stardust to proceedings, while The Haunting of Bly Manor's Benjamin Evan Ainsworth lent his voice as the puppet-turned-real boy Pinocchio in a faithful live-action remake of Disney's original film akin to the live-action 2020 Mulan and the The Little Mermaid.
In contrast, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is a much darker fantasy take on the story despite still maintaining the PG rating. Set in Fascist Italy, the Netflix version of Pinocchio sees the puppet come to life in stop-motion and try to make sense of the world he finds himself in, his own mortality, and his role as a son. Del Toro's Pinocchio is a more faithful retelling of Carlo Collodi's original story that reads like a Grimm fairytale rather than the commonly-known Pinocchio story. Del Toro's Pinocchio also features an all-star cast, including Ewan McGregor, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Perlman, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, and a bizarre role for Cate Blanchett.
With both movies being released on streaming and dealing with the same wooden protagonist, it feels as though these movies were each made with very different audiences in mind. Without being too cynical about Disney+'s strategy, it seems as though the live-action remakes of Disney classics simply want to cash in on proven classics without changing much at all. Del Toro's darker movie, on the other hand, feels like a riskier endeavor and one that pays off creatively for the Oscar-winning director. He clearly has a heartfelt and personal message to deliver within this familiar story.
Which 2022 Pinocchio Is Best?
Disney's live-action remake had the advantage of arriving first, but that didn't stop del Toro's movie from easily being crowned the best 2022 Pinocchio movie. Despite being a live-action take on a Disney classic, down to the wooden boy's famous costume, the name of the mega-studio itself wasn't enough to make the new movie work for audiences. Pinocchio opened to extremely poor reviews. The film scored a 27% critics score and a 30% audience score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, which isn't common for a Disney movie.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio, on the other hand, received wide acclaim from critics and audiences upon its release. Viewers praised the movie, saying it's one of del Toro's best since Pan's Labyrinth. It's the first retelling of Carlo Collodi's book to be done in stop-motion animation, for Pinocchio to be played by an actual puppet, and the movie is dripping with del Toro's signature style.
Guillermo del Toro's dark take on the classic tale fascinated audiences while also moving them with the touching story at its center. This marks about as drastic of a difference as there could be between these two movies with the Disney remake called one of the worst movies of 2022 while del Toro's version has won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
