DreamWorks’ The Road to El Dorado Deserves a Live-Action Reboot

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The movie was a huge hit for DreamWorks, earning over $636 million around the world. It’s a live-action version of their 2010 animated film, making it DreamWorks’ first attempt at this type of remake – something Disney has been doing successfully for years. Now, DreamWorks hopes to compete by creating live-action versions of more of their popular animated movies.

While How to Train Your Dragon 2 isn’t expected until 2027, DreamWorks has plenty of other options for movies. One strong contender is a 2000 animated action-adventure musical that, despite a lukewarm initial reception, has gained a dedicated following over the years.

DreamWorks’ The Road to El Dorado Deserves a Live-Action Reboot

Released in 2000, The Road to El Dorado is a vibrant and visually appealing animated film from DreamWorks. The story centers around two scheming con artists, Miguel and Tulio, in 16th-century Spain, as Spain begins exploring the Americas. After a scam gone wrong, they quickly escape on a ship, only to discover it’s part of the fleet led by the famous conquistador, Hernán Cortés, who is sailing to South America.

After arriving in the New World, Miguel and Tulio quickly find themselves in trouble. A series of mishaps begin when they anger Cortés by stealing his horse, Altivo. Along the way, hoping for excitement (and riches), they unexpectedly discover the legendary city of El Dorado, the fabled lost city of gold.

Miguel and Tulio’s journey takes an unexpected twist when the people of a city believe they are actually twin gods, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. This instantly makes them rich and famous, and they unexpectedly become the leaders of El Dorado.

What really got to me about this film was how Miguel and Tulio, these initially self-serving adventurers, gradually fell for the people of El Dorado. Seriously, the kindness and genuine hospitality they encountered were a stark contrast to everything they knew back home. It created this fascinating tension as they struggled to maintain their con, forcing them to really look at themselves. And when the ruthless Cortés finally set his sights on El Dorado, it wasn’t just about protecting the gold anymore – it became a desperate fight for the city, led by Miguel, Tulio, and the friends they’d unexpectedly made along the way.

The Road to El Dorado Features an Impressive Cast

Though the film has some serious moments, it’s also energized by a fantastic soundtrack from Elton John, who previously created the beloved music for The Lion King. The voice cast includes big names like Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh, who play the characters Tulio and Miguel.

The film features a captivating woman in El Dorado who sees through Miguel and Tulio’s schemes, unlike everyone else in the city. Jim Cummings and Frank Welker provide the voices for Hernán Cortés and Altivo, adding to the strong supporting cast. Tobin Bell, famous for his role in the Saw movies, also appears as Zaragoza, a sailor the duo meets early in the story.

Featuring lively characters, an exciting adventure around the world, and a surprisingly great soundtrack, The Road to El Dorado deserves a fresh look.

The DreamWorks Movie Is a Certified Cult Classic

Similar to other animated films from the 2000s that weren’t initially successful, The Road to El Dorado has gained a following over time. Many younger viewers who watched it as children now consider it a favorite.

DreamWorks has created a lot of beloved animated movies, and The Road to El Dorado is definitely one of them. Even though it was made a while ago, the film is still funny and heartwarming, making it a great option for a potential DreamWorks revival.

With so many reboots and remakes happening today, viewers often get weary of seeing the same stories retold. If DreamWorks continues to make live-action versions of its animated movies, it could stand out by focusing on films that didn’t get the attention they deserved. Instead of revisiting popular titles like Kung Fu Panda, DreamWorks could try reviving some of its less successful, but now beloved, films, starting with The Road to El Dorado.

Although The Road to El Dorado wasn’t a big hit when it came out in 2000, it’s gaining renewed attention now. With its vibrant animation, heartfelt story, and catchy songs, it would be a great addition to the current wave of popular animated films. Hopefully, El Dorado will finally achieve the success it deserves.

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2026-02-09 23:37