Whether we love it or hate it, we are in the era of Disney live-action remakes. For decades, Disney has been known for bringing some of the most iconic animated films in history to screen. Their films, whether adapted from previous works or original ideas, have gone on to become nothing short of iconic. Now, when brand new premises seem like such a big financial risk, it seems as though Disney is falling back on remaking some of its old classics with actual people telling the tales.
This has not always been met with positive reactions. The consensus is: but do we need this? If it’s telling the exact same story with little changes, or, conversely, grand changes that remove the heart of the original, why do it? Live-action remakes are often viewed with a harsher lens because of this. While some of the criticism may be exaggerated, there have been a handful of cringe-worthy scenes people won’t let slide. Whether it’s poor directing or bad writing, here are some of the most cringey scenes from Disney’s live-action remakes.
10 Beauty and the Beast (2017)
LeFou’s Dance Scene
When the casting for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast remake came out, people were cautiously optimistic. Emma Watson, most known for her part in the Harry Potter franchise, certainly looked like she could play the part of Belle. Once the film came out, most people thought she did okay, though her singing left much to be desired. However, it’s a supporting character who earns a place on this list. Josh God portrayed LeFou, the sidekick of the main antagonist Gaston. He fawned over Gaston, bending to his every whim.
The Tone of the Scene Is the Problem
There was a lot of subtext that perhaps LeFou was gay and in love with Gaston. During the musical number titled after the villain, LeFou embraces him and sings his praises. However, at the end comes a brief moment where LeFou is shown starting to dance with another man. The inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character isn’t the problem, but it’s the overall pandering tone every scene with LeFou, especially this one, had. It’s as though Disney didn’t want to fully commit, making this scene awkward and cringey.
9 Mulan (2020)
Young Mulan Chasing the Chicken
The Mulan remake was shrouded in controversy from its early days. With a 2020 release date, it seemed many forces were working against the success of this film. Even before the official trailers, fans’ guards were up after hearing about the numerous deviations from the original movie. From axing certain characters to changing the role of others, people were skeptical of how it would all come together. One thing most didn’t believe they had to worry about was Mulan herself. The character is adored for her resilience, discipline, and kindness. Surely Disney couldn’t get that wrong.
Losing the Heart of the Story From the Start
Yet if there’s a will, there’s a way. In the opening scene, a young Mulan is chasing a chicken around a market. She proceeds to do parkour-like moves, swinging, jumping, and running on roofs to catch the animal. A huge message in the original was that Mulan was a normal girl who grew up and overcame setbacks. The “I’ll Make a Man Out Of You” montage from the original would not hold the same weight if she was a savant from childhood. This choice flattened the character, rendered the main obstacles of the film irrelevant, and turned it into a pseudo-superhero film.
8 Aladdin (2019)
Jafar Turning Into a Genie
In the sea of princess movies, Aladdin has always stood out as one of the few (eventual) prince movies. The original 1992 cartoon is praised for its animation and humor, particularly that of the late Robin Williams, who voiced Genie. When Will Smith was cast, people were wishy-washy, and when the first photos came out of Smith in the Genie getup, fans flipped into panic mode. Yet Smith did a great job, opting to make the Genie his own, paying homage to the original while not trying to overshadow it.
The Villian Causes Second-Hand Embarrassment
So, while early feelers would guess that a Genie scene would be among the cringiest in this live-action remake, it was in fact one involving Jafar. Sure, Disney villains aren’t known for being the most complex or nuanced (unless Disney chooses to later make a villain origin story). Yet Jafar was completely one-note, evil for the sake of being evil. Mustache twirling. Power hungry. This is all perfectly exemplified in the climax when Jafar becomes borderline hysterical at the thought of someone being more powerful than him. Hearing he’s “second” best puts him into a frenzy, morphing this should-be tense scene into an eye-rolling moment at best.
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7 Maleficent (2014)
Maleficent Gives the True Love’s Kiss
Speaking of those villain origin stories meant to humanize iconic antagonists brings us to Maleficent. Angelina Jolie stepped into the titular role of the woman who cursed Sleeping Beauty, who here is played by Elle Fanning. Some villain origin stories are criticized for sweetening up said villain, sanding away the rough edges that made them fearful to begin with. Others find it fascinating to get a deeper look into their psyche. Maleficent falls somewhere in the middle. While it’s not all that necessary, Jolie’s performance made it pleasant to watch despite other areas where the film lacked.
The Change Is So Cheesy It Hurts
Yet even Jolie couldn’t save the ending from being saccharine, cheesy, and cringe. As many fairytales do, true love’s kiss was meant to break Aurora’s curse and wake her from her slumber. When the prince (whom she just met) kisses her, it doesn’t work. Thinking it’s over and that Aurora is dead, Maleficent kisses her on the forehead and slowly walks away. Lo and behold! Aurora’s eyes open. While we can appreciate Disney not relying on the “prince the princess met two seconds ago is her eternal love” trope, this was all too expected and not at all satisfying at such a critical point in the film.
6 Cinderella (2015)
The Royal Ball
The tale of Cinderella has seen many live-action remakes, from both Disney and other studios. In 2015, Lily James stepped into the fabled glass slipper as a young woman mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister. She acted alongside Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden. With many princess remakes receiving a negative reaction, many fans enjoyed this Kenneth Branagh production. They appreciated the ways the story stuck to the core of what made the original cartoon special while modernizing it in key areas.
The Crucial Scene to Their Love Story Left Much to Be Desired
However, there is one scene that Branagh didn’t quite nail. The first look is one of the most important scenes in a romance. And after being magically transformed by a fairy godmother, Cinderella’s entrance into the ball is even more special. While Madden, who played the prince, did a solid job overall, this scene left a lot to be desired. Some considered his reaction to Ella to be a case of over-acting, with a literal open jaw and wide eyes. The ensuing cliché romantic lines and stiff dancing while everyone silently stares couldn’t be saved even with the exquisite set design.
5 The Little Mermaid (2023)
“The Scuttlebutt”
The Little Mermaid had a lot to prove when it was released in 2023. Some of the public weren’t happy with the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel and others doubted if an over two-hour runtime was warranted. Though the reviews are still mixed, Bailey’s vocals were generally praised for how well she performed classics like “Part Of Your World.” Even Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, got his own solo song. Though not one of the best on the soundtrack, it was a decent addition to the soundtrack.
The Song Is Not Catchy & Mildly Irritating
The same can not be said about “The Scuttlebutt,” performed by seabird Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina). Truthfully, almost any scene featuring Scuttle could be featured on this list. The wise-cracking bird’s jokes rarely landed and this came to a head during this song. “The Scuttlebutt” features Scuttle rap-yelling as she drags out telling Ariel important news. Lin-Manuel Miranda penned the song, and although he has notched several hits for Disney (“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” for instance), this one proved even the greats miss sometimes.
4 Cruella (2021)
The Death of Cruella’s Mom
The Cruella live-action film took a lot of Disney lovers by surprise. There didn’t seem to be an uptick in interest in the 101 Dalmatians series nor the iconic villain Cruella de Vil, but excitement surely followed. Emma Stone was cast in the lead role, which would document how Cruella’s heart turned black and why she came to love fashion and loathe spotted pups. The 1970s London setting truly came to life and Stone’s performance was great, with a decent British accent and glorious campiness perfect for de Vil.
We Shouldn’t Be Laughing
Despite the praise this film received, many people did believe Disney’s attempt to humanize Cruella took away some of the fun. We learn why she hates dalmatians and it’s quite ridiculous. While at a manor, vicious dalmatians charge at her mother, who is conveniently standing near a cliff on a balcony. Lightning flashes in the background, Cruella looks on with dismay, and Cruella’s mom screams as she topples into the stormy waters. It’s about as dramatic and over-the-top as it seems. Laughter probably wasn’t the reaction the filmmakers intended for this scene, but it’s what they got.
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3 Pinocchio (2022)
Honest John Meeting Pinocchio
Certain remakes fall into a weird category: are they live-action or are they something else entirely? In Pinocchio, there definitely are real-life actors playing characters, such as Tom Hanks in the role of Geppetto. But the CGI of the others, such as the eponymous Pinocchio, are also front and center. Most know the story of a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. Viewers meet a host of characters during Pinocchio’s journey to boyhood, the cringiest among them hands down going to Honest John, a “charismatic” red fox.
The Song and Scene Aren’t That Funny
The trouble with many “live-action” remakes that feature animals is that they sit in this weird space of looking too fake to be real, but also too real to be fake. That’s not what makes this scene hard to watch (well, not the only thing). When Honest John launches into song and makes a joke about Pinocchio being an “influencer,” viewers know then they had better buckle in for some cringe. What follows is a Chris Pine joke, so by that point, the audience wouldn’t be surprised if he whips out a “YOLO” or some other in-world reference to “relate to the kids.”
2 The Jungle Book (2016)
Water Truce
Disney has a hard time reckoning with its desire to remake every one of their past projects under the sun while also grappling with some of the originals’ content that hasn’t aged well. It even had to add a warning for problematic content present in films available on Disney+. Such was the case when it decided to toss The Jungle Book into its remake circle. Again, it’d feature real actors alongside CGI to bring the animals and jungle setting to life. The protagonist, Mowgli, is a young boy who was orphaned and raised by animals and trying to grow up while the fearsome Shere Khan (an evil tiger) looms as a threat in the background.
A Fearful Scene Fell Flat
It shouldn’t be understated how difficult it is to act when the film heavily relies on CGI. Sometimes, actors are bouncing off a mute counterpart, and other times they are talking to air. This is hard for any actor, regardless of age, so some slack should be given to the young actor during the water truce scene. Mowgli is meant to appear fearful as Shere Khan comes to the water truce, but it never comes across as believable. Whether it was the unrealistic and unfitting voices of the animals, we can’t blame Mowgli for not being terrified, because neither were we.
1 Dumbo (2019)
Mad Mama Elephant
In 2019, the Tim Burton directed Dumbo. The adorable elephant is set to have his debut circus performance, though it’s of the utmost importance that he hides his ears. What would the crowd think of a cute baby elephant with floppy ears? Surely they expect to see only normal people at a circus. Looking past that, Dumbo’s ears are revealed, and the crowd begins hurling peanuts at him. Dumbo’s mama enters the ring, stomping and making her presence known before she’s temporarily calmed down.
The Entire Scene Felt Forced
This calm doesn’t last long as one of the handlers, Rufus, intentionally baits her into getting more upset. He cracks his whip before scurrying under the stands and cackling while he watches his evil plan unfold. We, as avid movie watchers, know a big moment needed to happen to set the rest of the plot in motion, but it all felt so forced. From the audience’s reaction to Dumbo to Rufus’ over-the-top villainy combined with stupidity that eventually gets him killed. It was a bit too on the nose to affect viewers emotionally.
