Forget live-action remakes of classic Disney movies likeSnow WhiteandLilo and Stitch, I need a live-action of the 2021 hit movie,Encanto. In recent years,Disney has focused on live-action remakes of animated movies, attempting to bring cartoons to life for modern audiences. This has met varying levels of success. WhileLilo and Stitch’sopening weekend box officeand generally positive reception proves there is potential in live-action adaptations, other movies like 2024’sSnow Whitewere a huge disappointment. However,Encantocould turn the tides, beginning a new era for live-action remakes.
Despite underperformance at the box office - it earned $261.3 million against a $120-150 million production budget -Encantohas made a name for itself.The movie follows characters in the Madrigal family, a multigenerational Colombian family who each have gifts, and centers on the giftless Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) as she sets out to find out why her family are losing their powers. With songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda,Encanto’ssoundtrack reached number one in the charts, particularly with the hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” andEncantoearned many accolades for its themes, characterization, and depth, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Encanto Is Perfect For A Disney Live-Action Remake
Encanto’s Popularity & Personal Story Make It A Perfect Candidate
Encantois the perfect movie to receive a Disney live-action remake for a number of reasons, but the main one is partly due to the film’s popularity. Although the movie’s box office earnings were lower than expected in 2021,Encantoachieved success via its ratings after the film was released on Disney+. Furthermore,Encantohas earned a rare Rotten Tomatoes score, being both Verified Fresh and Verified Hot with a 92% Tomatometer and 93% Popcornmeter- showcasing the film’s reputation among both audiences and critics alike - and continues to hold up today, as theanimated movie even topped 2024 streaming charts.
Encantoearned high praise for exploring Colombian culture and the topic of transgenerational trauma, with amazing and emotional performances all around.
However, it is the reasons behindEncanto’spopularity that make it the perfect candidate for the live-action treatment.Encantoearned high praise for exploring Colombian culture and the topic of transgenerational trauma, with amazing and emotional performances all around. The fact is, there simply aren’t many films like it in Disney’s repertoire.Encanto’scharacterswere refreshingly life-like and represented a lived experience for many, even if the film focused on magical elements, andthe move away from traditional storytelling into cultivating interpersonal relationships deeply resonated with viewers. Being so character-focused,Encanto’sreach could easily be expanded through a live-action remake.
Encanto Could Improve Disney’s Fortunes With Live-Action Adaptations
Disney Has Seen Live-Action Remakes Fail With Snow White & The Lion King
Despite its perseverance and occasional success,Disney has had a problem with its live-action remakesfor a while, butEncantocould end that unfortunate trend. Although movies likeThe Lion KingandSnow Whiteare definitively regarded as animated classics in Disney’s history, their live-action remakes are considerably less liked. This is because they fail to capture the beloved animated movies authentically, whether that be through poor CGI choices, slow execution, or a completely off-center plot.With the high fantasy aspects ofSnow Whiteand the non-human characters inThe Lion King, live-action remakes are distinctively harder to do.
the live-action remake would need to make sure it keeps the Madrigal’s powers and, more importantly, gets them right
This would not be so much of a problem withEncantoas the plotis human-based with minor magical elements. Thecharacters’ powers inEncantoare integral to their personalities and their dwindling magic forms the majority of the plot. Therefore, the live-action remake would need to make sure it keeps the Madrigals' powers and, more importantly, gets them right, to authentically recreate the same characters from the animated film. Luckily,in a world of fantastic CGI capabilities, making people look like they have superhuman strength or can make plants and flowers grow is relatively easy to doin Hollywood.
While the humanness ofEncanto’sstorywould make a brilliant live-action movie because of its practicality, its universal themes are also important. Exploring a multigenerational family, and its pressures,Encantofinds something for all audiences to relate to, and a live-action remake would further expand the reach of the film’s message and fantastic exploration of Colombian culture. Yet, despite an obvious interest in the movie, its universe, andMirabel followingEncanto’sending, an animated sequel has yet to be announced. Therefore, perhaps Disney can fill the void and fix its live-action failures by revisiting one of its most underrated movies.
