The live-action Disney remakes are a heavily contested project from the House of Mouse. Some fans believe these films were unnecessary and tarnished the legacy of the original animated hits. Others can see where Disney is making improvements, though. That extends to the underrated characters featured in these live-action outings.
When looking at the best characters in the live-action Disney remakes, it's important to focus on how they have been improved upon. Thus, these are not simply just Disney's best characters. These are figures that were able to demonstrate growth and depth after being adapted in a new way.
10 Mowgli
The Jungle Book is arguably one of Disney's best live-action movies to date. It's vibrant, fun and adds a lot to the original film. It takes inspiration from the source material by Rudyard Kipling and brings more energy and life to Mowgli. The young boy's story is both tragic and uplifting.
Mowgli's portrayal in The Jungle Book seamlessly balances the two worlds he is caught between. The conflict of wanting to be among the animals but belonging with his own kind is palpable on screen. The whimsicality of the original animation didn't quite portray this emotional complexity in as much detail. The catalyst for this arc can be attributed to Mowgli's well-formed relationships, which are more relatable and endearing here.
9 The Dragon
Pete's Dragon was an underrated gem. The film boasted one of Disney's most powerful characters in the Dragon, but the titular lead didn't garner the same popularity as other animated figures. However, Pete's Dragon is a moving display of how a character can be reinvigorated and repurposed.
Of course, Pete's Dragon is a coming-of-age story, but that doesn't just apply to Pete. The pet-like Dragon, Elliot, also has plenty of learning to do, and despite being a CG character, he manages to convey a great deal of empathy and emotion. From a technological perspective, Elliot is impressive. But as a character, the Dragon is also beautifully crafted without needing dialogue. That's all built from the bond between Pete and his beast.
8 The Queen Of Hearts
Alice In Wonderland was an ambitious project that visually changed what audiences knew about the original movie. It shifted the narrative to focus on the future, portrayed a grittier world and reinvented a bunch of familiar characters. But the Queen of Hearts was the standout, despite being a forgettable villain in the animated outing.
The Queen of Hearts was largely defined in the first movie by her jealousy, rage and head-related catchphrase. Those emotions are dug into a little deeper in live action. Helena Bonham Carter absolutely chews the scenery in the role, going from zero to one hundred in any given sequence. The choice to anchor the Queen's emotional instability on a lack of self-confidence was a genius way to frame the character.
7 Cinderella
The original Cinderella is surely one of Disney's best animated movies since it is still a classic to this day. However, the cartoon character was largely passive in her role. She simply reacted to the characters around her without getting to show a genuine sense of agency.
The Cinderella in the live-action iteration is a lot more well-developed. That may partially be down to the runtime allowing the audience to spend a lot more time with the character. Her backstory is expanded upon, for example. But Cinderella's struggles and arc feel even more emotionally compelling in this format. Plus, without the animals helping out in the same way, Cinderella has to take matters into her own hands.
6 Christopher Robin
Disney took a great risk in changing the status quo in Christopher Robin. Pooh and his friends were exactly as the animated hits intended. They carried over their defining traits from the books while bringing in the same flavor of charm established in animation. But Christopher himself needed to grow up for the narrative to work.
Christopher Robin is, therefore, one of Disney's best live-action remake characters because of his powerful journey. His jaded outlook on life and hopeless attitude is overthrown by the end of the film. The change in the character is so evident and incredibly moving. Robin's journey is intrinsically linked to the feel-good nature of the movie, and Disney's commitment to rebuilding these key character relationships from scratch pays off. It may be a little mature, but it's also thematically brilliant.
5 Maleficent
Maleficent was always a brilliant villain. Her appearance in Sleeping Beauty might have been brief, but audiences still remember her dramatic transformation from an evil sorceress to a demonic dragon. She inspired fear, but Maleficent attempted to add further depth by focusing on the character's strength, motherly instincts and vulnerability.
Disney absolutely succeeded with Maleficent. They added a character to their live-action roster that felt much more authentic than her original portrayal. The reasons behind Maleficent's actions were given more context, and her relationship with Aurora became more than just a battle between a hero and a villain. Empathy was created for the ultimate evil, and that's a difficult thing to achieve.
4 Cruella
Cruella de Vil was probably one of Disney's weakest villains. But what she lacked in power, she more than made up for in cruelty. Cruella was feared by Dalmatian lovers everywhere, and it seemed laughable that the character could be adapted in a more relatable manner. A childhood tragedy and Cruella hitting rock bottom were the keys.
Cruella managed to take de Vil on a surprising origin story. With the fashion world providing the backdrop, Cruella was hardened by the cruelty and betrayal she felt. The best live-action Disney characters manage to say something completely new about their animated backstories. The audience comes to understand Cruella thanks to her well-written struggles and obsession with overcoming those setbacks by any means.
3 Nala
The Lion King is a classic in the Disney vault that cannot be rivaled. It was controversial for Disney to remake this hit, considering it was so perfect. But it did improve upon Nala, who was largely a background character in the original. Simba's love interest only ever served as a reminder of home in the first version.
Nala's portrayal in The Lion King showcased the leadership role she began to take on in the absence of the king. The film set her up as a worthy queen, and although she was still a love interest, her scraps with Scar showed a new sense of strength. More time with Nala around Pride Rock ensured multiple dimensions were added to the lioness. That makes her a standout in Disney's live-action landscape.
2 Jasmine
Disney embarked on this live-action expedition partially to further empower their princesses. Jasmine was already incredibly popular among fans, but the Aladdin character was made to feel real in the modern remake. Disney decided to focus on Jasmine's political struggles.
Jasmine was given a new arc, hoping to one day take over from her father and lead Agrabah by herself. An additional song that fit in perfectly talked of the world wanting her to stay silent. It was an inspirational shift in the character that emboldened her in a new era.
1 The Beast
The first version of Beauty and the Beast touched on the Beast's curse and the reason why he was so angry. But it didn't give enough time to his backstory, rightfully focusing on Belle instead. However, the live-action Disney movie had more time to play with and expanded on the Beast.
The Beast's flashbacks were incredibly useful for the audience to understand the way the character had evolved since his younger years. An additional song, "Evermore," spoke to the Beast's pain and frustration with his fate while romanticizing the monster further. The original version of the character was already classic, but somehow this CGI remake surpassed it, making him a fantastic live-action reimagining.