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• Dumbo (2019)

• Oz The Great And Powerful (2013)

• Cinderella (2015)

• The Little Mermaid (2023)

• Maleficent (2014)

• The Jungle Book (2016)

• Alice In Wonderland (2010)

• Aladdin (2019)

• Beauty And The Beast (2017)

• The Lion King (2019)

Highlights

• Disney's live-action adaptations reinvented classic stories with modern twists and stunning visual effects.
• These adaptations have been successful at the box office, grossing billions worldwide.
• Disney continues to expand its live-action repertoire, with highly anticipated releases like Mufasa: The Lion King.

Disney's foray into live-action adaptations has been a transformative strategy in the filmmaking industry, reshaping the viewing experience while boosting the company's financial profile.

Initially sparked by the astonishing success of Alice In Wonderland in 2010 – which grossed over $1 billion worldwide from a substantial $200 million budget – Disney recognized the potential of re-imagining their beloved animated classics for a contemporary audience.

Live-action adaptations have introduced these timeless stories to a new generation, often incorporating modern visual effects and narratives that align with current societal themes, broadening their appeal.

These live-action remakes are often lavishly produced spectacles, pushing the boundaries of CGI.

The House of Mouse has made some of the biggest blockbuster live-action adaptations in recent history, contributing to the company's dominance in the global entertainment market.

As Disney continues to explore and expand its live-action repertoire, anticipation is building for upcoming releases like Mufasa: The Lion King.

This movie carries high expectations, as the 2019 remake was a billion-dollar smash hit at the box office.

Before it hits theaters, let's look at the highest-grossing live-action Disney movies to date.

Ranking The Highest-Grossing Animated Disney Movies Of All Time

10 Dumbo (2019)

Global Box Office, Dumbo - $353,284,621

Under the visionary direction of Tim Burton, the 2019 live-action adaptation of Dumbo reinterprets Disney's classic 1941 animated film with a distinctive blend of poignancy and spectacle.

Burton, renowned for his gothic and impulsive style, as seen in the 2010 adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, brought a unique visual aesthetic to the story of a young elephant whose oversized ears enable him to fly.

Unlike its animated predecessor, this version shifts focus towards human characters, portraying Dumbo as a beacon of hope in a circus setting.

Industry analysts estimated the film would have had to gross more than $500 million worldwide in order to break even.

Dumbo grossed $114.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $238.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide $353.3 million.

Deadline Hollywood reported it ultimately lost money.

9 Oz The Great And Powerful (2013)

Global Box Office, Oz The Great And Powerful - $493,311,825

Oz The Great And Powerful serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz books, including The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz.

Disney approached this film with the ambition of expanding the Oz lore, blending enchanting visual effects with a narrative that provides a fresh perspective on the classic tale.

Directed by Sam Raimi, this film explores the origins of Oz, the charismatic and somewhat flawed magician, tracing his transformation from a small-time circus magician to the revered wizard of a fantastical land.

Disney took a significant gamble on this narrative exploration, aiming to captivate both fans of the original series and new viewers.

Oz The Great And Powerful earned $234.9 million in the United States and Canada and $258.4 million in other countries, for a total of $493.3 million worldwide.

Deadline Hollywood reported that the net profit for Oz The Great And Powerful was calculated to be $36.4 million after accounting for all expenses and revenues.

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8 Cinderella (2015)

Global Box Office, Cinderella - $542,358,331

Disney dusted off the magic for a timeless classic, re-imagining Cinderella with a lavish production and a star-studded cast led by Lily James.

Steering clear of modern twists, this adaptation stayed true to the fairy tale's enchanting spirit. From opulent costumes to the glass slippers, every detail shimmered with a nostalgic charm that invited audiences of all ages.

Disney invested $95 million in bringing the story to life, a decision influenced by the billion-dollar success of Alice In Wonderland.

In true Disney fashion, the film was an instant box office smash, grossing $201.2 million in the United States and Canada and $341.2 million in other territories, for a total of $542.4 million worldwide.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Cinderella netted a substantial profit of $164.77 million, taking into account all production and marketing expenses.

7 The Little Mermaid (2023)

Global Box Office, The Little Mermaid - $569,626,289

Disney took a plunge into nostalgia with a live-action remake of the cherished animated classic, The Little Mermaid.

Disney invested heavily in this ambitious project, aiming to recapture the magic of the undersea world for a new generation. The Little Mermaid is Disney's second-most expensive to date.

Halle Bailey brought a fresh take to Ariel, the mermaid princess yearning for life on land. The film boasted advanced CGI to create a spectacular underwater kingdom filled with vibrant colors and awe-inspiring creatures.

The film incorporated new musical numbers, and gave Ariel a stronger voice in her determination to follow her dreams.

This approach garnered mixed reactions, with some praising the updated story and others feeling it strayed too far from the original.

Regardless, the film made a splash at the box office, grossing over $569 million worldwide.

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6 Maleficent (2014)

Global Box Office, Maleficent - $759,853,685

Disney flipped the script with Maleficent, opting to explore the untold backstory of the notorious villainess from the classic Sleeping Beauty.

Released in 2014, Maleficent revealed the complexities of its titular character, portrayed by Angelina Jolie.

Disney's bold decision to switch from an initially planned animated project to a live-action film paid off, drawing audiences eager to see a new dimension to a well-known story.

Maleficent received mixed reviews; however, praise was unanimous for Jolie's performance, the exquisite costume design, which earned an Academy Award nomination, and the overall visual effects that brought the mystical world to life.

Maleficent grossed $241.4 million in the US and Canada and $518 million from the foreign markets, totaling $759.8 million worldwide against a $180 million budget.

After accounting for all expenses, Deadline Hollywood estimated the film's profit at $190.77 million, ranking it as the sixth most profitable film of 2014.

5 The Jungle Book (2016)

Global Box Office, The Jungle Book - $967,724,775

The House of the Mouse's adaptation of The Jungle Book recaptured the essence of Rudyard Kipling's classic tales on the big screen.

The film is a live-action animated remake of Disney's 1967 animated film of the same name.

Unlike its animated predecessor and previous live-action attempts, this version stands out for its visual splendor and the depth it adds to the original narrative.

The Jungle Book featured nearly 70 different species of animals native to India, each rendered with meticulous detail. On the financial front, The Jungle Book was a sleeper hit.

It earned $103 million in its opening weekend, exceeding expectations by 40 percent.

It would go on to gross $364 million in the United States and Canada and $603.7 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $968 million against a budget of $175 million.

Deadline Hollywood's calculations suggest that The Jungle Book netted a profit of $258 million for Disney.

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4 Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Global Box Office, Alice In Wonderland - $1,025,468,216

Alice In Wonderland is a fantastical continuation of Lewis Carroll's beloved tales, crafting a visual spectacle that breathes new life into the eccentric universe of Wonderland.

Although not the first of its kind, Alice In Wonderland is credited with initiating a trend of green-lighting live-action fairy tales and fantasy films, particularly at Walt Disney Studios.

The film's production, tied for Disney's third-most-expensive project alongside Mulan, had a budget of $200 million.

Featuring a distinctive blend of live-action and CGI, Burton's Alice In Wonderland diverges from the traditional narrative, exploring more mature themes and complex character dynamics.

Alice In Wonderland grossed $334.1 million in North America and $691.3 million in other territories, for a total of $1.025 billion worldwide.

Additionally, Alice In Wonderland garnered critical acclaim, securing Academy Awards for "Best Art Direction" and "Best Costume Design," which highlighted the film's creative and artistic achievements.

3 Aladdin (2019)

Global Box Office, Aladdin - $1,054,304,000

Aladdin delivers an entertaining new take on the classic source material's story with ample flair, though it does not quite capture the animated original's breathtaking splendor.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, Aladdin infused the timeless tale with vibrant, contemporary energy — despite facing mixed reviews that contrasted its visual and musical spectacles against some creative choices.

While the film received a mixed critical reception, with some pointing out the challenges in CGI and certain performances, the overall response celebrated the movie for its engaging execution and particularly for Will Smith's spirited take on the Genie.

Aladdin grossed $356.6 million in the United States and Canada and $699 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.054 billion, against a production budget of $183 million.

Deadline Hollywood calculated Aladdin's net profit to be $356 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues.

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2 Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Global Box Office, Beauty And The Beast - $1,266,115,964

Breathing new life into its cherished tale, Disney's 2017 rendition of Beauty And The Beast re-imagined the beloved 1991 animated classic for a modern audience, setting a gold standard for live-action adaptations.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its cast, songs, and visual detail. Disney invested $254 million in the production, making it the most expensive musical ever made.

Beauty And The Beast grossed $504 million in the United States and Canada and $752 million in other countries, for a worldwide gross of $1.266 billion.

Deadline Hollywood reported that Disney made a net profit of $414.7 million from Beauty And The Beast, taking into account all expenses and revenues, including box office earnings and home media sales.

1 The Lion King (2019)

Global Box Office, The Lion King - $1,663,079,059

In 2019, Disney's The Lion King returned to theaters with a ground-breaking adaptation that redefined what could be achieved with photo-realistic animation.

Director Jon Favreau, hot off the success of The Jungle Book, leveraged cutting-edge technology to create a virtual Africa where computer-generated animals moved and behaved with breathtaking realism.

This technique allowed characters to mimic real animal behaviors more authentically, enhancing the immersive experience of the film.

Interestingly, the only actual live-action shot in the movie is the iconic sunrise in the opening sequence.

The film included a star-studded voice cast featuring Beyoncé, Donald Glover, and James Earl Jones, who reprised his iconic role as Mufasa.

The Lion King grossed $544 million in the United States and Canada and $1.119 billion in other territories, for a total of $1.663 billion worldwide.

According to Deadline Hollywood, The Lion King made a net profit of $580 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues.

A prequel film titled Mufasa: The Lion King is set for release on December 20th.

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