By Kelsey Mcavin
Executive arts editor
Disney has been synonymous with and known for magical storytelling and imaginative worlds since the 1900s. In the most recent years, the company has shifted from original stories and has increasingly relied on remakes and live action adaptations of its animated classics, rather than creating new content. While these adaptations are still magical and extremely popular among Disney fans, it raises the main question about Disney: why is it so bad now?
For many people, Disney was a critical part of their childhood, growing up with Disney Channel original shows and movies like Liv and Maddie, High School Musical, and Camp Rock. Flash forward to today, the magic of “classic Disney” is fading. Disney Channel has even shut down in international markets as a part of Disney’s strategy to focus on Disney+, Disney’s streaming service. They’re even raising the price of purchasing a Disney+ subscription, further proving their desire for money over audience enjoyment.
COVID-19 undoubtedly played a role in the decline of box office sales during the 2020s, however the pandemic is not solely to blame. Disney struggled to gain widespread attention even after the restrictions were lifted, causing the company to turn to live action remakes of their original classics.
Disney’s reliance on remakes and sequels ultimately is a result of their cash grab mentality. Films like Lightyear (2022) and Strange World (2022) attempt to tell stories that are original, yet both were failures. Remakes continue to dominate Disney’s releases, from The Little Mermaid live action remake produced in 2023, to the upcoming Moana 2 currently being filmed. Both movies have already faced increased backlash, as there is severe controversy surrounding the company’s willingness to produce content that is unoriginal but will make money, rather than creating new original classics. The company clearly prioritizes profit over creativity, and eventually are going to lose the entirety of their audience if this trend continues.
In contrast to the original, every remake or live action adaptation of the original is a soulless replica with little to no value. The stories don’t need to be retold in the first place, especially when the originals can be easily streamed. Groundbreaking films like The Lion King (1994) are known for their storytelling, animation, and music. New films like Moana (2024) and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) seem like they were thrown loosely together, both with no real original plot and few redeeming songs.
Disney has been involved in several lawsuits with a variety of people such as Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, and the entire state of Florida. Disney is accused of violating rights, contracts, and multiple copyright allegations. Animator Buck Woodwall is suing Disney for $10 billion, claiming the new film Moana 2 was copied from the decade old original without the writer’s consent.
Speaking of Moana, it is easily one of Disney’s most popular films. It is the most streamed movie of the past five years, and joined the Top 10 list of the highest-grossing domestic animated movies of all time. It’s no surprise that Disney is taking one of its most popular movies and creating a sequel to it, along with being in the process of creating its live action adaptation. It’s beyond insane how money-hungry Disney is and how they cannot create anything original anymore.
Competition also plays a huge role in the decline of Disney. Platforms and industries like Netflix, Warner Bros, and Dreamworks offer more variety and quality in their content. Disney has proven they can create new original content that can still earn money, for example Zootopia (2016). Zootopia is a prime example of a unique storyline with phenomenal animations, while still being able to tie in social issues like stereotyping. The film grossed over $1 billion globally and has received praise worldwide. Disney once again took advantage of this achievement and announced Zootopia 2, to be released in Nov. 2025. Fans should have low expectations for this movie if it’s anything like the most recent Disney films, it will be nothing short of disappointing.
Disney relies on its fans and its success ultimately depends on whether or not they can recapture the magic it once held. Until they step it up, audiences will be returning to the classics to gain a nostalgic reminder of a time when Disney truly felt magical.
Leave a Reply