The Disney Movie That Should Never Get A Live Action Remake
Disney has accumulated an incredible catalog of 2D-animated features over the years. From the studios' very first, 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," to its last, 2009's "The Princess and the Frog," so many entertaining and beloved stories were told through the tried-and-true medium. However, Disney hasn't totally abandoned these tales in favor of new ideas, especially in the past several years. Many have been or are going to be reimagined through a live-action lens for a new generation, encouraging modern creators to try their hands at these classics.
"Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book" from 1994 is recognized as Disney's first attempt at giving an old project a facelift, but this approach hasn't become a full-fledged trend until very recently. "Alice in Wonderland," "The Lion King," "Dumbo," and others have graced the big screen once again, with the likes of "The Little Mermaid" and "Bambi" on their way down the production pipeline. Though the fan response to this phenomenon has been mixed — some love the concept while others despise it — Disney has shown little sign of slowing down.
The studio will continue to do with its properties whatever it wants, so long as the cash flow remains steady. Even still, there are some cinematic favorites that many believe should remain untouched, left to their original form no matter the circumstances.
A Bug's Life is better left alone
To determine which live-action remakes Disney fans didn't want to see, Looper recently ran a poll to gauge their interest or lack thereof. Of the 536 respondents, only 6.16% think that "Pocahontas" shouldn't be revisited, with 13.06% feeling the same way about "Toy Story." Meanwhile, 13.43% cast their ballot for "Hercules," 19.22% voted for "Bambi," and 21.08% sided with "Ratatouille." The clear winner was Pixar's "A Bug's Life," which took home the remaining 27.05%, and there are likely a couple of explanations for why it scored so highly.
Currently sitting at a 92% fresh critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, "A Bug's Life" is a well-regarded product of Disney's early partnership with Pixar. Thanks to a strong cast consisting of names such as Dave Foley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Phyllis Diller, it grossed over $363 million on a $120 million budget, making it quite a financial success. Those who thoroughly enjoyed it back in 1998 when it came out surely still harbor a strong love for it to this day, hence why they may not have any desire to watch a potentially worse live-action take on it.
At the same time, it's important to consider where "A Bug's Life" ranks in the pantheon of Disney and Pixar projects. It certainly has its fans and is a strong title in and of itself, but not long after it left theaters, it wound up largely forgotten. When comparing its pop-culture footprint to those of "Toy Story," "Monsters Inc.," "The Incredibles," and other Pixar efforts, it pales in comparison. Therefore, one could assume that it shouldn't get a live-action retread since it's simply not a marquee title that warrants it.
Whether you love it or hate it, most just aren't into a live-action adaptation of "A Bug's Life." All things considered, that may be for the best.