10 BIGGEST MODERN DISNEY DISAPPOINTMENTS, RANKED

Modern Disney has struggled to capture the attention of audiences in comparison to their older titles. While Disney's live-action remakes are profitable, they often fail to harbor the magic that their original classics held. This is because essentially the same story is being told, but with far less whimsy, since there is only so much that can be communicated through live-action versus the expressiveness of animation.

The onslaught of remakes and sequels was only exacerbated by the global pandemic, as Disney needed to sustain profits and concluded that the best business strategy would be to make films based on already existing properties. The implementation of Disney+ has also enabled the company to produce more original movies that are lower in quality and cost. Panned by critics and fans, these films, mainly forgotten Disney+ releases, are known as some of the biggest disappointments from the studio in recent years.

Magic Camp Is a Cringeworthy Disney+ Comedy

A Failed Mix of DCOM and Family Flick

Released in the first summer of the pandemic, Magic Camp was clearly meant to be background entertainment for families while they tried out new hobbies. Starring Adam DeVine of Pitch Perfect and Gillian Jacobs of Invincible, the two face off against each other in a competition after returning to their childhood magic camp. Unfortunately for DeVine's character, Andy, the kids in his group are rather inexperienced.

Determined to prove to his rival that he and his team can win, he sets out to teach the kids the art of card tricks and making coins disappear. The film relies too heavily on cheap gags and a weak premise that bored audiences, even when they were already trapped inside. The film does have similar awkwardness to Disney Channel Original Movies, but it fails to capture any charm that some of the best DCOMS have.

Haunted Mansion Is a Ridiculous Remake Based on a Ride

The Film Banked Too Much on Its Stellar Cast

Based on the hugely popular The Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World theme park, a 2003 film starring comedian Eddie Murphy was released. The film performed moderately well at the box office but was critically scrutinized; therefore, it doesn't make sense why Disney would want to remake the unsuccessful film again in 2023.

The remake, ironically enough, was more well-received critically, some calling it one of the best live-action remakes of the 2020s, but performed horribly at the box office, only grossing a little over $117 million on a $150 million budget, failing to break even. Haunted Mansion still didn't earn a passing grade on Rotten Tomatoes, even if it had a more eclectic cast and better special effects. The casting was likely what Disney was counting on to bring in big earnings, as the film featured LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and Jared Leto, among other notable names.

Dashing Through the Snow Is a Christmas Movie No One Has Ever Heard of

This is Probably the Most Hated Disney+ Holiday Film

Filled with cheesy jokes, terrible CGI and a contrived plot, Dashing Through the Snow isn't likely to be on any family's holiday watchlist. The film's cast is fun, with comedian Lil Rel Howery as a wisecracking Santa Claus and rapper Ludacris as a Christmas non-believer named Eddie. Still, the egregiously unfunny script doesn't allow them to do much with these roles.

The film attempts to be both a father-daughter bonding film and a holiday romp, but fails to achieve either goal, instead remaining severely unmemorable. This was another straight-to-Disney+ release, and it definitely has that straight-to-streaming feel. For those looking for holiday favorites, Disney+ has plenty of actual classics, like Home Alone and The Santa Clause, so this film can be easily avoided.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Is Overly Ambitious

This Colorful Film Was Too Convoluted to Be Enjoyed

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms has the exact same Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and Letterboxd score as Dashing Through the Snow, but this film earns a higher ranking for at least grossing a small amount at the box office. Even still, this unremarkable CGI cesspool isn't anything special and blends in with Disney's other dull live-action remakes, despite being a story the company hasn't told before.

The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday story, but The Nutcracker and the Four Realms takes too many creative liberties, adding unnecessary elements that make the classic tale almost unrecognizable. It's clear that Disney wanted to give more agency to female protagonists in this era, but Clara is a strong character in the classic ballet as well. Even with acclaimed actors Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, the film feels bloated rather than creative, with all its grandiose sets and costumes that don't emulate the dreamlike quality they were seeking.

The Cheaper by the Dozen Remake Didn't Impress Audiences

Just More Proof That Some Films Should Just Be Left Alone

Even though Cheaper by the Dozen was already remade and had a critically panned sequel, Disney attempted to revitalize the family comedy for a third time in 2022. This version of the film starred Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union as the parents of 10 mixed-aged children who get into a variety of wacky hijinks daily, leaving their parents scrambling to keep everything under control.

Much like Disney's other remakes, Cheaper by the Dozen feels like an easy money ploy. The film is intensely modernized, including social media trends and contemporary film and TV references. These jokes are usually poorly placed and feel like a bunch of corporate executives trying to haphazardly appeal to young audiences. Hopefully, Disney learns their lesson based on the reviews and won't try to make a sequel to this film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Was the Biggest Disappointment of the Series

The Film Didn't Live Up To the Expectations of Its Predecessors

Starting in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the action-adventure series quickly became a favorite among fans. With Johnny Depp as the alluring and charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow, the films managed to maintain a loyal fan base throughout the 2000s and into the early 2010s. However, the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, indicated that maybe this franchise had run out of steam.

Critics noted in many reviews that the series had overstayed its welcome, and that this film proved that without a doubt. This hasn't stopped Disney from hoping to reignite interest in this immersive series as Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is currently in development. Actor Orlando Bloom recently expressed interest in returning for the next film and is hopeful that Depp and Keira Knightley will join him in the next installment.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Is a Sequel That Was Not Needed

Leaving the First Film Where it Was Would've Been a Better Choice

Though Tim Burton's 2010 Alice in Wonderland wasn't particularly well-received, many fans appreciated his vision and found the darker and more dangerous Underland an eventful place for Alice to navigate. The 2016 sequel, which isn't directed by Tim Burton but instead by James Bobin, who directed the successful Muppets movies in the early 2010s, serves as a wildly underwhelming follow-up.

The film desperately pads its runtime with new and uninteresting characters and centers around the ridiculous backstory of the Red Queen and White Queen. The performances by Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway are serviceable. Still, they don't distract from the film's overly complicated plot and completely unwarranted addition to this universe.

Pinocchio Is Disney's Lowest Ranked Live-Action Remake

This Film Should've Signaled to Disney to Stop Making Remakes

Many fans argue that Disney shouldn't be giving their animated films the live-action treatment, as they usually don't add anything new to the story. Conversely, when they do, sometimes the latest additions are even worse than any issues the initial film had, causing major controversy, such as the Lilo & Stitch remake. Fans have complained that the film's new ending killed the entire message of the original.

The 2022 Pinocchio remake proved to be one of the more unnecessary remakes, offering very little for viewers to engage with. The film removed some of the more problematic aspects, mainly featured in the pleasure island sequence, which replaced the cigars and beer given to children with root beer. The CGI is notably uncanny and hard to look at, and Robert Zemeckis's direction is notably unextraordinary, which is disappointing considering he's responsible for some of the most beloved family films of all time.

The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild Is a Horrible Entry to the Series

This is Another Example of a Franchise That Shouldn't Have Been Continued

Though Simon Pegg reprised his role as the adventure-seeking Buck Wild, it wasn't enough to get viewers on board with yet another Ice Age film. The animation is noticeably worse, and the vocal performances don't give the same energy and individuality to the characters as in the previous films. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild feels like another blatant attempt to innovate a series that will guarantee marketability without actually delivering a cohesive and exciting story.

Buck is a fun character, but this overemphasis on Crash and Eddy, two of the series' most unlikable characters, doesn't help the film at all. All hilarity is sacrificed for forced plot points that don't fit well into the already uncompelling narrative. The film is the lowest rated of all the Ice Age films, but despite this,Ice Age 6 is currently in production.

Artemis Fowl Is Disney's Biggest Failure

This Film's Low Ratings are Not Exaggerated

Artemis Fowl can no longer be found on Disney+ due to cost-cutting measures, but this may be for the best, as thefilm is something no one should ever witness. Though it was based on a best-selling book series, the film significantly stumbled in its execution and is universally hated by fans of the book and Disney fans alike.

The melding of sci-fi and fantasy doesn't feel natural at all and instead creates a nauseating experience with visuals that confuse and disorient audiences. What's so disappointing is that the potential for an action-packed, vibrant film was there in the source material, but Disney's handling of it made for a colossal misstep. A combination of wasted opportunity and terrible reviews makes this film an easy pick for the top of this list.

2025-06-17T10:42:00Z