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Ranking Disney’s Live-Action Remakes

When a studio is as old and has as big a catalog of hits as Disney, it's inevitable to look back through past decades of success stories for a property that can be refreshed and re-appropriated for a modern audience. Lately, Walt Disney Pictures has been making headlines for its rampant revisits to some of its most beloved animated classics, with this year's The Jungle Book serving as the most recent example of the studio taking a story from animation to live action. However, in addition to translating these iconic stories into a new visual style, Disney has also sprinkled in several notable remakes of its own live-action films.

Pete's Dragon

4) The Parent Trap (1998)

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The most memorable thing about the 1961 original version of this Disney film is likely the catchy “Let’s Get Together” tune belted out by Hayley Mills, in a dual role as twin sisters who conspire to reunite their estranged parents.

Plot-wise, this remake – co-written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) – remains pretty close to the template laid out by its predecessor. Lindsay Lohan shines in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson are both predictably charming as the parents in question.

Though its formula is pretty obvious from the start, The Parent Trap brings enough heart and humor to the story to serve as a worthy effort. Meyers’ film earned largely positive reviews and $92 million for its trouble. Knowing when it’s onto a good thing, it wouldn’t be the last Disney remake to star Lohan.