Nowadays, every animated movie seems to have a live action version either already out or in the process of filming. These movie adaptations come with mixed opinions about whether or not they are what production companies should be focused on. On one hand they often do well in the box office, or at the bare minimum break even. On the other hand some say they are lazy and uninspiring because we have already seen the story and don’t need to see it in live action.
The live action movie craze started around 2010 when Tim Burton released his version of Alice in Wonderland. The movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide proving that there was money to be made in these remakes. Since almost every major studio has released at least one live action remake of a popular animated movie. Most of the time, the movies they choose to remake are originally geared towards children. They likely remake these movies to try and get adults to watch due to the nostalgic feeling they have for the original movie. However, lots of adults criticize these movies for not staying true to the original.
Earlier this year, Disney released a live action remake of the beloved movie Lilo and Stitch. This movie received mixed reviews with many critics saying it captured the fun spirit of the original and remained true to the overall story. Many fans online were much more critical of the movie due to its casting, added plot points, and consequently hole-filled story. The movie filmmakers attempted to add depth to some of the more one sided characters, but in doing so many fans felt as though they changed the heart of the movie and compromised part of the plot. That being said, the movie has grossed over $1 billion worldwide meaning, for the most part, fans of the animated and new fans alike have gone to see it.
Another live action movie to be released this year was How To Train Your Dragon. This movie received high praise online due to it being an almost shot for shot remake of the original. Critics and fans alike seem to praise the movie for its ability to bring new life to an old classic. The movie made only around $636 million possibly due to the fact that it went to streaming services relatively quickly. However, many still consider the movie a commercial success and a sequel is already in the works.
A lot of live action movies are not as successful as the two previously mentioned. For example Disney released another live action movie this year. That being a remake of Snow White. Unlike Lilo and Stitch, this movie received negative reviews from critics and fans alike. The movie received 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 2.2/10 stars on IMDB. Backlash included uproars over casting, cgi, and once again plot lines. The fact that Disney released two live action movies and one did well while the other fell incredibly short, shows the slippery slope that these remakes can bring to studios. The question is then: Why do studios continue to make these live actions when they can be so hard to get right?
The answer is that when they do have a successful movie, it can make them millions. As long as these movies continue to break even or make a substantial amount of money, studios will continue to remake their old movies. These movies allow them to do minimum work when it comes to the overall production of them while reaping the benefits of a completely new movie.
