close
close

20 Disney movies that would be terrifying as live-action films

20 Disney movies that would be terrifying as live-action films

Disney seems to have made a habit of adapting its entire animation catalog into live-action films, but some must remain in the archives as animation classics.

Disney

If you have seen the film adaptation of the musical Catsyou fully understand why a live-action version of Aristocats would be terrifying. Sure, the CGI could be improved, but is there a way to make CGI cats not look terrifying?

Pixar

We don’t need to see live-action insects on a larger scale than we see them in real life. A Bug’s Life was cute because it was animated. Nothing could be done to A Bug’s Life sweet in live action. It’s a classic Pixar film and there’s no reason to taint its legacy.

3 of 20

‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’

'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'

Disney

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is scary in the animated version. The protagonist is supposed to be scary. The villain is terrifying. And the subject of eugenics would be far too intense for a children’s film in a live-action version.

4 of 20

“The brave little toaster”

“The brave little toaster”

Disney

Live-action remakes work well when the characters are already human. However, when they’re animals, it’s much harder to make the live-action version as appealing as its animated counterpart. And it would be nearly impossible to make small household appliances look cute in live-action films. The brave little toaster is such a strange film. It doesn’t need to be re-released as a live-action film.

'Chicken and Heaven'

Disney

Again, live-action films work best when the characters are human. If they are literally fish out of water, ducks and little chickens, the whole thing isn’t quite as cute. And the idea of ​​the sky falling wouldn’t be so palatable in a live-action film.

6 of 20

“Gnomeo and Juliet”

Disney

Live-action films work much less well when the characters are almost human. It would be deeply disturbing to watch people who look like gnomes running across lawns and getting stuck in fences. Gnomeo and Juliet was not a great success anyway, so we can only hope that this film will never be considered for a live-action adaptation.

'Destroy it Ralph'

Pixar

Not every part of Destroy it Ralph would be terrifying in live action, but many scenes, especially the scenes where Ralph smashes things, would be gross enough to ruin the rest of the film. In the animated version, he’s cute and we want it to stay that way.

'Wall E'

Pixar

Wall-E as a live-action film, it would seem less like a cute little robot and more like a dystopian science fiction film. And with very little dialogue, it would feel like a documentary about life on Mars, not a film set on Earth in the distant future.

9 of 20

“The Return of Jafar”

“The Return of Jafar”

Disney

The live-action version of Aladdin was nice, but The Return of Jafar would be very scary since there is a lot more of Jafar shown and he is clearly the scariest part of Aladdin. As far as we are concerned, he can stay in the lamp and never return to the live-action space.

'Dinosaur'

Disney

Some things can only be cute in animation. Take dinosaurs, for example. They are cute, friendly and adorable when they appear in an animated film like dinosaurIf they act in a live-action film like Jurassic Parkthey are frightening. The background of dinosaur would be breathtaking in a live-action film, but that’s about it.

11 of 20

‘Monster Inc.’

'Monster Inc.'

Pixar

Monster Inc. corresponds to the same concept as dinosaur. Any live-action monster movie is very scary because monsters are very scary. In animated movies, they are cute, cuddly, and personified so we like them. This movie would not translate well to live-action.

12 of 20

‘The Black Cauldron’

'The Black Cauldron'

Disney

The Black Cauldron is one of those films that reminds audiences just how dark Disney can be. Witches, an army of undead warriors, dark magic – this film has all the makings of an intense horror film. It’s amazing that more adults haven’t shared the trauma they suffered as children watching this film. A live-action remake would be terrifying, and not in a good way.

'Robin Hood'

Disney

If someone wanted, Robin Hood If you wanted to make a live-action film based on the animated version, it would be wise not to make the characters animals. The story is classic for a reason, but it resonates well with children because of the animated animals. Watching a live-action animal steal food and use archery wouldn’t work quite as well.

'Soul'

Pixar

Soul is a fantastic movie, but the only parts that would work as live-action would be the beginning and the end. Anytime the characters are just souls, which is most of the time, it would be weird at best and nightmarish at worst.

'From the inside to the outside'

Pixar

It’s fun to look inside your own head in an animated movie, but it would be much less fun in a live-action version. And watching a giant elephant sacrifice itself by falling into a deep abyss? No thanks. We’ll keep the cute animated version of from the inside to the outside and hope that it will never be remade.

'Ratatouille'

Pixar

There are far too many rats in Ratatouille that it will ever be a live-action film. If the film was about a mouse that could cook, sure. But the film is called Ratatouillenot Mouseatouille. For this reason and this reason alone, this film can never be made into a live-action film.

'Strange Magic'

Disney

The characters in Strange magic are not called monsters, but many of them look enough like monsters to fall into the category of animated films that should not be made into live-action films because the characters would be too scary in real life. Some films are animated for a reason.

'Frankenweenie'

Disney

Frankenweenie is the perfect way to introduce children to the classic monster story Frankenstein. It’s scary without being too scary, and its stop-motion animation is perfect. But in a live-action version, it would be too scary. If kids want to see a live-action version, Frankensteinthey should just watch Frankenstein (under parental supervision, of course).

19 of 20

“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad”

“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad”

Disney

Some animals are just cute, but toads are only cute when they’re animated. A CGI toad would be hideous, and no other reason needs to be given. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad would be a terrible live-action film.

20 of 20

“DuckTales the Movie: Raiders of the Lost Lamp”

“DuckTales the Movie: Raiders of the Lost Lamp”

Disney

Real ducks are cute, sure. But human-sized CGI ducks? That’s something we can’t forget. Think of DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp as a group of Donald mascots at Disney World running around in Indiana Jones costumes, and you’ll understand why the film should never be made into a live-action movie.

Acacia Deadrick is a South Dakota-based writer who has written for websites such as Nicki Swift, The List, and Glam. She loves music and all things pop culture. In her free time, she enjoys watching TV, doing crossword puzzles, and reading.