You Keep Hearing Everyone Hates Live-Action Remakes, So Why Does The Box Office Disagree?

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For the past few years, movies based on established franchises – often called “IP movies” – have been the main focus of Hollywood. Disney, in particular, has a slate of upcoming films that are largely sequels to popular stories that have become big franchises. While some original, non-sequel movies released in 2025 have performed well, this is unusual; the trend continues to be dominated by franchise films.

Movies like sequels, prequels, and reboots are incredibly popular, drawing huge crowds to theaters year after year. Franchises thrive by keeping audiences engaged over the long term, and while critics often debate their quality, their success at the box office is undeniable. The numbers clearly show people love these films.

Movies based on existing properties – or “IP” – have been a part of cinema nearly from the beginning. The first sequel is often considered to be 1916’s The Fall of a Nation. However, these types of films are more popular than ever, and a particularly noticeable trend is the rise of live-action remakes. Disney alone has remade over twenty of its classic animated films with live actors, and these remakes have significantly impacted both box office numbers and the film industry as a whole.

Live Action Remakes Performed Well At The Box Office In 2025

The live-action version of Lilo & Stitch has become one of the biggest hits of the year, ranking as the second-highest-grossing movie worldwide. It’s been a huge draw for families, bringing the beloved characters to life on the big screen. Domestically, it’s also the second-highest-earning film of 2025. The movie has even been well-received by critics, earning a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon was a huge success, becoming one of the year’s top 10 highest-grossing films worldwide and in the US. As the first live-action adaptation of a DreamWorks animated movie, it performed exceptionally well with both audiences and critics, achieving a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Snow White Remake’s Performance Proves People Still Love The Classics

Despite exceeding box office expectations, the live-action Snow White remake faced a wave of negative reviews on IMDb following comments made by Rachel Zegler, where she criticized the original animated film. Even though many believe Zegler’s performance was better than the reviews suggest, her remarks during the film’s promotion likely harmed its chances of success before it even hit theaters.

The movie flopped in theaters, largely due to its huge production cost and a boycott sparked by public anger. Though the film wasn’t well-made and Gal Gadot’s acting was weak, the strong reaction highlights a key point: people are very attached to the original films, and simply updating them with a new approach isn’t a recipe for success.

The negative reaction to Rachel Zegler highlights what really draws people to these live-action remakes: nostalgia. Audiences are primarily interested in revisiting the films they loved as children or saw when they first came out. While the originals may not be perfect by today’s standards, they remain true classics.

Live-Action Remakes Let Audiences Experience The Classics In Theaters

One reason live-action remakes are popular is that they let audiences enjoy familiar stories in a new way, especially in theaters. Many people didn’t see the original, classic Disney animated films when they first came out, so a live-action version offers a chance to experience those stories for the first time on the big screen.

I think movies like The Lion King and Aladdin were so successful because of nostalgia. Even if some people felt they weren’t as good as the originals, they still drew huge crowds. It’s amazing to see parents taking their kids to see these live-action remakes – they want their children to experience the same magic they felt as kids when they first saw the animated versions in theaters. It’s about sharing those special memories and creating new ones!

Reviews Reveal Live-Action Remakes Are Mostly Disliked

It’s widely agreed that most live-action remakes aren’t very good. A lot of the criticism stems from Disney making changes that harm the original story or what people loved about it. A general lack of originality also contributes to the negative feelings.

Live-action remakes tend to be more successful when they tell new stories – like prequels or spin-offs – rather than trying to recreate the original films. That’s why movies like Cruella and Maleficent have become fan favorites, despite the general criticism that many live-action remakes are simply made for profit and lack originality, especially from fans of the original Disney animated classics.

Animated Cinema Still Wins Over Viewers

Despite a few disappointments and box office failures among the most hyped 2025 animated films, animation as a whole remains successful and well-regarded. The critically praised KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s most popular movie ever, demonstrating that original, imaginative animation continues to captivate audiences more than live-action remakes.

While live-action remakes of classic animated films often do well in theaters thanks to people’s fondness for the original stories and a sense of nostalgia, they don’t capture the same magic as the animated versions. Ultimately, studios seem to be making them primarily for profit. Despite strong box office numbers, most viewers actually dislike these remakes.

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2025-12-16 18:01