Disney’s “Golden Era”, from its early movies in 1937 all the way to the late 1990s, is often remembered for its strong storytelling, eye-catching animation and ever-increasing popularity all around the world. With industry-defining movies like “The Lion King”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Frozen” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, this era served as a precedent for all future movies in the animation industry. Through these movies, children have not only enjoyed impressive animations, but also explored themes of responsibility, family, loss and so much more.
For me, what made this era so unforgettable wasn’t just the animation or the music—it was the feeling I got every time I watched a masterpiece. I still remember being six years old, sitting on the couch, staring at the screen as if something truly magical was unfolding in front of me. Those movies didn’t feel like fiction; they felt real in a way I still can’t explain. With lessons about life wrapped in songs and colorful characters, Disney didn’t just create films—it was creating experiences that have forever stayed in my heart.
Recently, I’ve personally found myself unsatisfied with the majority of new productions. I’m tired of seeing the same remakes and the same storylines, just in different fonts. Lately, many fans—including myself—have come to realize that Disney is losing the creativity that once made its movies so riveting. Rather than coming up with new and original ideas, their movie industry has become solely reliant on making sequels and live-action versions of popular animations. According to KCRA3, over the last five years, approximately 68% of all Disney movies have been either sequels or remakes of previous movies. Disney has been relying on nostalgia to market their movies, focusing on content that is familiar and safe to get people to watch. These movies also frequently aren’t even similar to their original versions, with the same characters executing completely different storylines. While people start watching thinking they’ll get to see some of their favorite animated movies come to life, they often finish the movie underwhelmed.
In the past few years, “The Little Mermaid” and “Snow White” were two prime examples of movies that didn’t necessarily require live-action versions, but were made into live-action films anyway. In “Snow White”, Disney completely altered the story line. The original, much like most early princess movies, focuses on a “damsel in distress” theme where the princess needs to be saved by a prince. As society has shifted to support more progressive perspectives—such as women not needing men—the new adaptation focused more on fitting those expectations rather than staying true to the original plot. While the new story was an interesting idea on its own, it simply didn’t fit under the label of the “Snow White” we all know and love.
If live actions, or reproductions in general, have to be created, it makes the most sense for them to be accurate or at least similar depictions of the original. If a new storyline is created, using the same name doesn’t match the audience’s expectations. In the case of “Snow White”, I had already been dreading watching it after seeing the trailer. A story about an independent princess is a great concept on its own, but shouldn’t be placed under the label of a treasured classic, leading me to be ultimately disappointed because it didn’t live up to its namesake. Because of cases like this, adaptations can sometimes be successes but oftentimes end up being heavily criticized.
However, I will say that not all recent Disney movies fit this criticism, and there have been a few films that proved the company’s remaining talent for meaningful stories. “Luca” and “Encanto” were two recent movies that earned high acclaim for their unique storylines. Both films explore themes of self-acceptance, friendship and living up to high expectations. These prominent aspects of the movies are what made it so relatable and engaging to audiences. Being able to see pieces of myself reflected in a character on screen is a big part of why I love watching movies—it reminds me that I’m not alone in what I feel and experience.
Similarly, “Inside Out 2” was proof that not all sequels are bad. The first movie in this franchise, “Inside Out”, was definitely one for the books. It explored the mind of a young girl, Riley, who is still navigating the emotions of growing up and the hardships that come along with it. The second movie builds on this storyline and visits Riley when she has reached her teenage years and starts experiencing new emotions that try taking over the other ones. Watching this movie almost felt like I was looking into myself, and I know it resonated with many others too. Seeing a character on screen who experiences what many of us go through in our everyday lives as we get older is one of the reasons this movie did so well.
Another sequel I loved was “Frozen 2”. As a little girl, I ate, breathed and slept “Frozen”. It was my most favorite movie in the world and part of that nostalgia still lives on with me. When I heard “Frozen 2” was coming out, I was very excited and I am now glad to say, I wasn’t disappointed. The movie had a great storyline with a deeper dive into the sisters’ past and their heritage, opening up a new perspective on the Frozen franchise altogether. However, there has been recent news of this franchise becoming a trilogy, with a third movie expected to be released in 2027. I will admit I don’t have the highest hopes for this newest installment, because there’s only so far a story can be stretched before it drifts too far from the original.
One thing I have noticed is that most harshly criticized live-action films and sequels are the ones made from princess movies. For many, Disney princesses serve as the figurehead of all Disney things and hold a special place in a lot of kids’ hearts. So naturally, us as the viewers hold these movies specifically to a higher standard and it just feels wrong when the movie is redone in a different way. Because of this, movies such as “Moana 2” and “Snow White” disappointed me more than most other non-princess movie reproductions. For example, “Moana 2” definitely wasn’t one of the worst sequels I’ve watched, but the resolution did feel a bit too fast and easy, and I was disappointed with the ending. The story had potential, but I feel it wasn’t carried out in a way that was on par with the original.
For many viewers, these princess movies represent core memories—moments of comfort, imagination and joy. When those stories are too drastically changed, it can feel like those memories are being altered and like someone is trying to rewrite a core part of our childhood.. It’s not just about whether the movie is good or bad, it’s also about whether it feels true to what it once was. On the other hand, one live-action movie that I personally loved was the “Aladdin” recreation. This is one of my all time favorite movies simply because of its accuracy towards the original. It is one of the few live actions that I can confidently say I enjoy more than the original. The actors matched my expectations, and the setting and story was created almost to perfection. There’s something about the accuracy at which it was executed and the soundtrack that really resonated with me. Additionally, with “Aladdin” having one of few brown princesses in Disney at that time, it felt even more meaningful to see a representation of myself that I could relate to on screen. While a lot of recent movies haven’t been what was expected, there are some rare instances where Disney pleasantly surprises us.
But why is all this change in style happening? As Disney’s platform and viewership grows, so do their sales and business as a whole. To continue an upward stream of growth, it’s possible that they have become more profit-focused rather than aiming to impact their viewers, prioritizing quantity over quality. Analyses from outlets like Business Insider and Forbes note Disney’s increasing reliance on “safe” content to ensure consistent financial returns. For instance, the release of the live-action “Lion King” in 2019 made around $1.6 billion. However, films with newer and more experimental stories, such as “Encanto” from 2020, only made around $260 million, despite it being a really enjoyable film. More people were likely initially inclined to watch “Lion King” due to the fact that they were familiar with it, regardless of the actual quality of the movie.
Disney has always held a special place in my heart, and though it always will, it pains me to see the recent changes in the industry and the reduction in quality content. I still feel like older Disney films always left me with a feeling of something deeper, and something lasting. Newer movies have not had the same effect and it saddens me to think that we are losing the aspect of Disney that made it so magical. What once was a franchise of true authenticity and integrity has now turned into a money-focused corporation that tries harder to keep fans watching than to create meaningful content.
I hope that one day Disney realizes that audiences truly value originality and meaningful storytelling over repetition. And I hope they find their magic again, through movies that will make up for the way they had “let it go” in the first place.
