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Disney magic continues to enchant, but when it comes to live-action remakes, in Italy the nostalgia effect still wins. This is what emerges from an analysis conducted by JustWatch, the world's largest guide to streaming content, which measured the success — in terms of popularity and appreciation — of new live-action versions versus animated classics.
The result? Remakes attract tons of clicks and interactions, but the hearts (and ratings) of Italian viewers remain faithful to the original versions.
Curious but critical: the public watches, but does not always approve
From January 1st to May 23rd 2025, JustWatch analyzed the behavior of Italian users on over 12 Disney titles. What is particularly striking is the difference between popularity and appreciation: while films like The Little Mermaid (2023) e Snow White (2025) lead the rankings in terms of number of searches and clicks, it is the animated versions that get the highest ratings — often higher than the 20-30%.
For example, The little Mermaid original from 1989 reaches an impressive 95% approval rating, against the 66% of the 2023 version, despite being less clicked. Same goes for Biancaneve: the remake is highly sought after, but barely garners any 31% positive ratings, while the iconic 1937 film maintains a solid 91%.
The timeless: when even popularity rewards the original
There is no shortage of cases in which the original triumphs also in terms of visibility. This is the case of Beauty and the Beast (1991), which occupies third place in popularity (after The Little Mermaid 2023 e Snow White 2025), even surpassing its own 2017 remake.
Same fate for Mulan (1998), which beats its 2020 live-action version in both popularity and interactions. A strong signal: some classics continue to be discovered or rediscovered even by new generations, perhaps intrigued by the remakes.
Curiosity or nostalgia? A cultural (and emotional) question
While on the one hand, live-action remakes represent a successful commercial operation for Disney - capable of renewing interest and attracting new viewers - on the other hand, they confirm a well-established fact: the emotional bond with animated films is still very strong.
For many generations who grew up with VHS and 90s cinema, Disney classics represent much more than a film. They are memories, emotions, cultural identity. And for the younger ones, who perhaps discover the remake first, it is the original versions that assert themselves as new discoveries to be treasured.
Study methodology
The survey is based on a combination of interaction data (clicks, searches, digital purchases, views) collected by the JustWatch platform between January and May 2025. The popularity score, normalized on a 0-100 scale, measures the weighted average of Italian users' activities.
The ratings, on the other hand, come from JustWatch and other review platforms, offering a complete overview of the public's appreciation.
The Ranking: Live-Action vs. Originals
| 🥇 Location | 🎬 Title | 🔥 Popularity | ⭐ Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Little Mermaid (2023) | 70 | 66% |
| 2 | Snow White (2025) | 60 | 31% |
| 3 | Beauty and the Beast (1991) | 51 | 96% |
| 4 | Beauty and the Beast (2017) | 38 | 88% |
| 5 | The Little Mermaid (1989) | 31 | 95% |
| 6 | Mulan (1998) | 30 | 97% |
| 7 | Aladdin (2019) | 24 | 86% |
| 8 | Cinderella (2015) | 24 | 88% |
| 9 | Aladdin (1992) | 22 | 97% |
| 10 | Snow White (1937) | 17 | 91% |
| 11 | Cinderella (1950) | 3 | 92% |
| 12 | Mulan (2020) | 1 | 74% |
The message is clear: Disney live-actions are intriguing, but not always convincing. While the new versions offer spectacularity and narrative updates, animated films are still the ones that hold the essence of Disney magic — the one that continues to thrill, generation after generation.