Live-Action Remakes Spark Interest, But U.S. Audiences Still Favor the Animated Classics 

Are the reimagined reboots living up to the originals? As studios continue their trend of releasing live-action remakes of beloved animated films, including the latest adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, streaming guide JustWatch conducted an in-depth analysis to measure how these reboots are resonating with American audiences. 

The findings tell a clear story: while the remakes generate substantial viewer interest and engagement, the original animated classics consistently earn higher user ratings on JustWatch. On average, they receive over 60% higher ratings among U.S. audiences. 

“It’s always going to be a big challenge when you try to compete with expectations and the nostalgia of films that experienced wild success,” said Mike Pearce, JustWatch analyst. “We do see that some remakes have performed better than others, but the originals still remain the favorite.” 

Viewer Ratings versus Popularity: Who Wins the Fan Vote?

Note: User ratings are based on aggregated data from JustWatch U.S. and other review platforms.

*Popularity score based on clickouts, title interactions, watchlist saves in 2025.

Despite high clickouts for newer Disney releases, the original titles like Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and The Little Mermaid (1989) consistently receive higher user ratings across streaming platforms and review aggregators. 

Curious but Critical: America’s Love for Disney’s Originals 

• Remakes spark searches, not loyalty: Newer versions like Snow White (2025) and The Little Mermaid (2023) lead in clickouts and discovery, but user sentiment often leans nostalgic.
• High ratings for hand-drawn heritage: Across major review platforms, the original animations boast notably higher average ratings than their modern CGI counterparts.
• Remakes that come closest to the originals: Beauty and the Beast (2017), Cinderella (2015), and Aladdin (2019) stand out for earning the strongest audience approval among the modern reboots.
• Viewers are evaluating, not necessarily embracing: The data suggests that U.S. users are eager to check out remakes, but are more likely to champion the originals after viewing.
• Cinderella’s quiet reign: Despite low interaction scores, Cinderella (1950) holds one of the highest user approval ratings among the full Disney canon.

This analysis underscores a broader trend: while new interpretations bring fresh energy and modern storytelling, they rarely eclipse the emotional resonance and cultural impact of the originals that defined a generation. 

About the Data 

This analysis is based on proprietary user data from JustWatch, collected between January 1 and May 23, 2025. Popularity scores are calculated using a daily weighted average of user interactions, including searches, clickouts, and redirects to streaming platforms. Clickouts encompass a wide range of engagement types, such as ad views, purchases (buy/rent), cinema tickets, flatrate subscriptions, and free streaming options. 

The final rankings are derived from a normalized scoring system: the most popular title in each comparison receives a top score of 100, with all other titles scored proportionally below. The maximum theoretical score is 100. 

This study compares the performance of each Disney remake with its closest animated predecessor, covering over 12 titles across the studio’s catalog. 

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