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'Alice in Wonderland' (2010) - This quirky film based on the novel by Lewis Carroll was the first to be released in the flood of Disney live-action remakes. The story follows Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) throughout her adventures in Wonderland, where she meets characters such as the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the Queen of Hearts (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), and the mildly-endearing/mildly-creepy Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry).

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How it did - 'Alice in Wonderland' was the second highest-grossing film released in 2010, and even inspired a sequel from yet another Lewis Carroll book in 2016, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass.' However, the sequel did not share the same success as its predecessor.

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'Maleficent' (2014) - Disney decided to tell the story of Sleeping Beauty with a different flair. 'Maleficent' (2014) stars Angelina Jolie, and tells the well-known story from the "villain’s" point of view.

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How it did - The movie took a cool US$758.5 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film in 2014, according to Business Insider. It’s no wonder that after this rousing success, they have decided to make a sequel, set to debut this fall.

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‘Cinderella’ (2015) -

Based on the classic movie from 1950, 'Cinderella' (2015) brings in some big names to recreate one of the most popular fairy tales. Lily James plays Ella, Helena Bonham Carter plays the fairy godmother, and Cate Blanchett plays the evil stepmother. The biggest difference, however, comes from the fact that it's not a musical.

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How it did - Cinderella had a happy ending in terms of commercial success, and was positively received by critics. It also became Kenneth Branagh’s highest-grossing film opening, beating out 'Thor' (2011).

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'Jungle Book' (2016) - Released in April 2016, the live-action film follows Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, who must escape the jungle due to the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan. We follow him throughout a journey of self-discovery with some particularly colorful characters. The film was directed by Jon Favreau, who you may recognize from films like 'Chef' (2014). The cast includes Neel Sethi (Mowgli), in his break-out role, as well as some familiar names such as Ben Kingsley (Bagheera) and Bill Murray (Baloo).

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How it did - 'Jungle Book' made approximately US$966.5 million in the box office, and won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. They have already started planning a sequel, though no date has been set for its release.

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'Pete’s Dragon' (2016) -

Released in August 2016, 'Pete’s Dragon' tells the story of a young orphaned boy and his friend named Elliot… who just happens to be a real-life dragon.

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How it did - 'Pete’s Dragon' may not spring immediately to mind when thinking of Disney, but that didn’t stop the public from enjoying it. It grossed US$143 million worldwide, and gave the young Oakes Fegley his break-out role.

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'Beauty and the Beast' (2017) - The tale as old as time got some new life with this live-action rendition. With a star-studded cast, including Dan Stevens and Emma Watson in the titular roles, Disney added some new twists and new music to bring this tale back to life.

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How it did - 'Beauty and the Beast' was a box-office success. It became the highest-grossing film of 2017 after earning more than US$1.2 billion worldwide. It also earned the title of highest-grossing live-action musical film, though some of the movies on this list may give it a run for its money in the future.

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'Christopher Robin' (2018) - Christopher Robin is all grown up and lacking imagination, so he must go back to Hundred-Acre Wood. Ewan McGregor plays the titular role, with support from the voices of Jim Cummings, Brad Garrett, Nick Mohammed, and Peter Capaldi, among others.

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How it did - 'Christopher Robin' received mixed reviews overall, including 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, and ended up raking in US$197 million worldwide.

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'Mary Poppins Returns' (2018) - Many may be thinking, "Wasn’t this already a live-action movie?" Well, you would be right. However, this movie worked as a continuation of the first, starring a grown-up Jane and Michael Banks.

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How it did -

With an all-star cast like Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Bert, it's not shocking that the movie pulled in US$349 million worldwide.

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'Dumbo' (2019) - Tim Burton (pictured) took on the direction of this old tale about the little elephant with big ears and big dreams. The story was slightly tweaked however, as they chose to add a human family into the mix.

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How it did - Dumbo unfortunately failed to please critics, despite its talented cast, only scoring a 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

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'Aladdin' (2019) - Prince Ali made his come back to the big screen in this new live-action film. While the film put great emphasis on finding non-white actors for the cast, many were upset with the casting of Billy Magnussen as a new suitor for Jasmine. Regarding title characters, Disney had to ensure they all could sing, as 'Aladdin' remained a musical. The cast included Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Naomi Scott (Jasmine), Marwan Kenzari (Jafar), and Navid Negahban (Sultan). And who wouldn’t want to have a friend like Will Smith in the role of Genie?

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How it did -

Disney's live-action adaptation of 'Aladdin' (2019) grossed over US$1 billion worldwide, solidifying its place as the third-highest-grossing readaptation to date. While it didn't quite reach the heights of some predecessors like 'The Lion King' (2019), it undeniably performed well with Disney fans. Critics, however, offered a more mixed response, praising the visual effects and cast performances while expressing some reservations about the script and how it adhered too strictly to the original animated film.

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'The Lion King' (2019) - 'The Lion King' was one of the most anticipated remakes to hit the big screens. Jon Favreau (director of 'The Jungle Book') was at the helm for this live-action film and he made sure we still could not get through the stampede scene without crying.

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'The Lion King' cast - A plethora of stars were recruited to voice the live-action film, including Donald Glover (Simba), James Earl Jones (returning as Mufasa), John Oliver (Zazu), Billy Eichner (Timon), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), and Beyoncé as Nala. Looks like Queen Bey moved up to be Queen of the Jungle.

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'Mulan' (2020) -

A fearless young woman who disguises herself as a man to join the Imperial Army and save her ailing father. This captivating tale couldn't be left out of the live-action bandwagon. The film offers a more grounded and action-oriented approach to the story compared to its animated predecessor. Starring Liu Yifei as Mulan, the film also features Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, a mentor figure, and Gong Li as the formidable villain, Xianniang.

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How it did -

Production delays and controversy surrounding the film's casting and filming locations impacted its initial buzz. When it was finally released, the film struggled to recoup its high production costs at the box office, in part due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its controversial release strategy, as the studio opted to bypass domestic multiplexes by selling the film digitally in the US. Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the film’s visuals and action sequences but criticism for its lack of musical numbers, humor, and deviation from the beloved animated original.

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'Cruella' (2021) -

Following the successful formula of 'Maleficent' (2014), Disney delved into the backstory of another iconic villain. 'Cruella' (2021) explores the transformation of young, aspiring designer Estella into the ruthless Cruella de Vil. With Emma Stone delivering a captivating performance and Emma Thompson shining as her nemesis, the Baroness, the film takes fans on a journey through the traumatic experiences that shaped Estella's dark path.

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How it did -

While not reaching the box office heights of other Disney live-action remakes, 'Cruella' (2021) still managed to gross over US$220 million worldwide. The film's stylish visuals, strong performances, and reimagining of a classic villain captivated audiences. Critics praised the film's aesthetic and Emma Stone's portrayal of the main character, but some criticized its departure from the original source material and reliance on the familiar "villain origin story" trope.

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'The Little Mermaid' (2023) -

This reimagining of the classic animated film still explores the underwater adventures of Ariel, a curious mermaid princess who longs for the human world. The story follows Ariel's decision to make a dangerous deal with the sea witch, Ursula, in exchange for legs, all in pursuit of love with Prince Eric. The film boasts a diverse cast, including Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Javier Bardem as Ariel's father King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula. The supporting cast brings beloved characters like Sebastian and Flounder to life with a modern twist.

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How it did -

The live-action version of the classic tale generated significant pre-release buzz and controversy, primarily due to the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel. Despite the initial backlash, the film achieved commercial success, drawing in audiences eager to see this Disney staple  reimagined. Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the film's visual splendor, Bailey's performance, and some of the updated musical numbers - a new rap number penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a songwriter with an otherwise stellar reputation, drew strong disapproval from some critics. Many reviews highlighted how the film lacked the magic and charm of the original, and that the focus on political correctness overshadowed the storytelling.

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'The Sword in the Stone' - Not much is known about the remake of the tale of the plucky young squire Arthur or "Wart," and his magical companion, Merlin. What we do know however, is that it’s sure to be done right with Bryan Cogman (the writer and producer of 'Game of Thrones') at the wheel.

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'Peter Pan' - This is decidedly not the first, nor the last, adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s 'Peter Pan.' From the grown-up version in 'Hook' (1991) to the tale of inspiration in 'Finding Neverland' (2004), we’ve seen a lot of different sides of Peter Pan. We so far only know the director of the film, David Lowery (pictured here), who also directed 'Pete’s Dragon. Let’s just hope it’s better received than 'Pan' (2015). Think happy thoughts.

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'Tinker Bell' - As an added bonus, the sassy fairy sidekick is also getting her own backstory. Reese Witherspoon will be playing the role of Tinker Bell in the live-action film. Originally announced in 2015, fans have known about this one for a while. Despite this however, no other details have been announced as of yet.

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Rose Red -

Back in 2016, Disney announced that yet another live-action adaption of Snow White was in the works. This one would be focused on Rose Red, Snow White’s sister, however she has little to do with the well-known Disney tale. Rumors were that Brie Larson could be looking at the titular role. Evan Daugherty ('Snow White and the Huntsman,' (pictured) was reportedly writing the script, basing Rose Red on the character from Grimms’ Fairy Tales.' No other news have been announced so far and, with the new 'Snow White' live-action set to hit the screens soon, Rose Red might have to keep on waiting for her big break.

See also: The dark side of Walt Disney

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