Disney has been ramping up their production of remakes in recent years, but there are some movies which should remain untouched. Disney’s live-action remakes have been a mixed bag so far, and the studio has yet to banish the lingering doubts of whether these remakes are necessary.

With new releases like Snow White and Pinocchio, it seems as though none of Disney’s animated classics are safe from the remake treatment. One or two high-profile flops might slow down production for a while though, meaning that Disney can reᴀssess which movies should be left alone.

10

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

The Pirates Franchise Should Never Have A Full Reboot

The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie kick-started Disney’s biggest live-action franchise, and it welcomed audiences to a vibrant world that seemed perfectly set up to facilitate plenty of sequels. While the franchise is at a crossroads, sequels and spinoffs are preferable to the idea of a full remake.

With Pirates of the Caribbean 6 still shrouded in mystery, there have been conflicting rumors about Johnny Depp’s future in the franchise. Whatever happens, Disney should resist the urge to recast the key characters from the first movie, since it’s hard to imagine a remake improving on The Curse of the Black Pearl.

9

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

One Of Disney’s Funniest Movies Would Lose Its Charm

It’s never a good idea to reboot or remake a comedy movie because comedy relies so much on chemistry and delivery. Since The Emperor’s New Groove is one of Disney’s funniest animated movies, it would be a huge risk to try and recreate the same humor with a different cast.

Remaking The Emperor’s New Groove would also risk losing the movie’s hilarious physical comedy. A live-action version wouldn’t have the same spongey cartoon physics that make the original so enjoyable, and the story of a man being transformed into a llama could inadvertently veer into body horror.

8

Bambi (1942)

Bambi’s Remake Has Stalled Indefinitely

Disney’s live-action remakes started with a focus on the hits of the 1990s, but recent years have seen the likes of Pinocchio, Dumbo and Snow White having their moments. Disney also announced plans for a live-action Bambi remake, but it’s probably for the best that the project seems to have stalled.

One of the most common criticisms aimed at Disney’s remakes is that the animal characters don’t have the same personality as they do in animation. This could ruin Bambi from the very beginning, because it needs to forge an emotional connection between the audience and the characters to have any chance of working.

7

Robin Hood (1973)

There Are Other Ways To Revive The Robin Hood Myth

Robin Hood is another movie that had a live-action remake announced by Disney, but as the studio has taken stock of its upcoming projects, it seems to have fallen into obscurity. A Robin Hood remake would suffer from the same problems as a Bambi remake, with the added issue that the story and characters have already been adapted countless times.

There always seems to be room for another interpretation of the Robin Hood myth, but a live-action remake would lack the peculiar charms of Disney’s original. Robin Hood came out during a strange transitional phase for Disney’s animation, and its unique style hides plenty of creative touches that would be lost in live-action.

6

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Disney Should Stop At Maleficent

Disney’s Maleficent movies turned out to be a much wiser move than a more traditional live-action remake of Sleeping Beauty. Angelina Jolie’s starring role as one of Disney’s best villains put a new tist on her story, which is the most that audiences could ask for from a modern remake of an old classic.

Maleficent has also made a Sleeping Beauty remake less alluring, since it would have to either recast Jolie or pull focus from her character once again, which is a big risk. It’s also worth remembering that Sleeping Beauty‘s unusual animated style is part of what makes it stand out among Disney’s classics, taking inspiration from medieval tapestries and stained-glᴀss windows.

5

Frozen (2013)

Disney Needs To Keep Some Animated Movies Sacred

Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Moana could represent a new era, since the Moana animated franchise is still alive and well. Rather than reviving old classics, Disney now seems interested in turning modern animated hits into live-action versions, but some movies should remain untouched.

With Frozen 3 in production, talk of a live-action remake should be dismissed immediately, but Moana means that it’s a serious possibility. Disney needs to prove that animation is more than just a trailer for a live-action version to be made down the line, and resisting the commercial allure of a Frozen remake would be a good place to start.

4

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

The Cult Classic Might Not Work Without Its Nostalgic Sheen

The Great Mouse Detective was a bright spot in the so-called Disney dark ages, between Walt Disney’s death in 1966 and the Disney renaissance that began with 1989’s Little Mermaid. It has become a nostalgic cult classic for many people, but this doesn’t mean that it should be remade.

The Great Mouse Detective puts a twist on Sherlock Holmes, which is something that has remained just as popular in the 21st century. There are ways that Disney can do this in live-action without trying to reconstruct the movie’s world of mice and other small animals that might not work as well the second time around.

3

Cool Runnings (1993)

The Sports Comedy Was John Candy’s Last Movie

Certain movies should never be remade because they’re ᴀssociated with one actor, and Cool Runnings is a great example because it was John Candy’s last movie. The world lost the popular comedian too soon, but his films are still just as enjoyable as ever.

A Cool Runnings remake would probably also struggle to ᴀssemble a cast with the same kind of fast-paced dynamic as the original. As a fun sports underdog story, it’s hard to beat Cool Runnings, so it’s best to leave it as it is. A sequel looking at a newer generation of Jamaican bobsled athletes might be a different prospect.

2

Mary Poppins (1965)

Mary Poppins Returns Shows That A Full Remake Isn’t Necessary

Emily Blunt had some big shoes to fill when she landed the starring role in Mary Poppins Returns, but the sequel was met with positive reviews. This proves that there’s a way to revive the character without ever needing to resort to a full remake of the Julie Andrews classic.

Mary Poppins Returns differentiates itself from the original in a few key ways, but it would be even harder for a proper remake to avoid too many direct comparisons. Mary Poppins is one of the best Disney live-action movies and musicals, so a remake would have a remarkably high bar to clear just to be seen as worthwhile.

1

Fantasia (1940)

Disney Should Revisit Fantasia Without Remaking It

Fantasia is an unusual Disney movie, because it doesn’t just follow one story. It’s an anthology film with a heavy focus on the way that its segments enhance the classical music that backs it up. Disney released a sequel 60 years later, Fantasia 2000, which shows the best way to keep the spirit of the original alive without remaking it.

Disney should revisit the concept of Fantasia every few decades, just as they did with Fantasia 2000. This can offer a time capsule of the state of the studio and animation as a whole. It’s also an interesting creative exercise to offer different artists the same brief, whereas a direct remake would be pointless.