Whether it’s CGI characters superimposed into live-action scenes, such as the newly released Tom & Jerry, or wholly live-action movies, including real-life animals playing anthropomorphized characters, there have been so many adaptations of beloved cartoons over the years. Unfortunately, live-action adaptations of movies don’t have the best reputation, and time hasn’t been kind to them.
However, there’s even a lot to love about the live-action remakes that haven’t aged so well, especially if viewers grew up with them. From caveman families using dinosaurs as modes of transportation to carrot-thieving rabbits, these are the best.
The Flintstones (1994) - 4.9
It might be strange to call a movie with a 4.9 out of 10 the best of anything, but movie adaptations of cartoons aren’t exactly the most celebrated. Ever since The Flintstones began all the way back in 1966, there have been so many different cartoon adaptations and spin-offs, but in 1994, the franchise took a huge step by making a big-budget blockbuster movie.
The movie had huge names attached to the project, including John Goodman and Rosie O’Donnell, but it was full of bad puns and tacky set design. However, as negatively received as it was, there’s no denying that Goodman was perfectly cast as Fred, and he put his all into it, just as he does with every role.
Garfield: The Movie (2004) - 5.0
Although it was also negatively received, there must have been enough people who loved Garfield: The Movie, because it got a sequel two years later. The biggest takeaway of the movie is the cat himself, as the character is voiced by Bill Murray.
Many argue that Murray has phoned in his performances in recent years, as he hasn’t been in many quality movies like he was in the '80s, but voicing Garfield is arguably one of the best things he did in the 2000s, and its sequel, A Tale of Two Kitties, has the exact same score.
Scooby-Doo (2002) - 5.1
After so many so-so direct-to-video movies made of the TV show, the live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo might fall into the category of “so bad it’s good,” as everything about it is completely shocking, but so much fun at the same time.
The characters, which were played by legitimate movie stars (at the time) are even more over the top than they were in the TV series, and though it had all the classic hallmarks of the show, it wasn’t all that faithful. The movie took the liberty of making Scrappy the villain in arguably one of the best plot twists of the 2000s.
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) - 5.2
Though Scooby-Doo, unsurprisingly, wasn’t a hit with critics, it still managed to smash the box office, making $275 million worldwide, which can only mean one thing: a green lit sequel.
Surprisingly enough, just like the last one, Monsters Unleashed was actually written by James Gunn, who is now well-known for bringing The Guardians of the Galaxy to the big screen. And it makes sense, as the best thing about Monsters Unleashed is the camaraderie between the members of the mystery gang, just like it is in Guardians.
Popeye (1980) - 5.3
Back in the 1980s, if studios put the late, great Robin Williams in anything, it was sure to be a hit and full of genius ad-libbed jokes. But given that Popeye was his very first starring role, it didn’t quite land the same way his later films did.
With Williams not having the star power or the pull he did later in his career, and with it being an existing franchise, there wasn’t much room to experiment, and that’s where the film fails, as it’s almost like a live-action carbon copy of the cartoon. However, that’s also what makes some of the scenes so great, as its humor and charm are mostly pitch-perfect.
Tom & Jerry (2021) - 5.3
Being the newest live-action remake of the lot, there was so much to look forward to with Tom & Jerry, as the property had been dormant for a long time despite it being beloved. But as the visual style changed dramatically and lacked the archaic spirit of the originals, it didn’t impress every old fan.
Unfortunately, no Tom & Jerry release will ever be as good as the old cartoons, but many consider them way too violent and vulgar for kids today, as entertaining as it was. But along with the classic cat and mouse is a great supporting cast, including Chloe Grace Moretz and Michael Pena, who make it all the more fun and actually improving on the source material.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - 6.2
At the height of his powers, Jim Carrey could act his goofy self in silly outfits, and studios would rake in hundreds of millions of dollars, whether it was as Stanley Ipkiss in The Mask or The Ridler in Batman Forever. But the movie that showcases this more than any other is the now-classic Christmas movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Armed with just a prosthetic nose and a companion dog, the actor elevated the cartoon into a new entity. And though the series has reverted back to a cartoon, as Illumination developed the 2018 movie, The Grinch, the live-action movie will always be better.
Peter Rabbit (2018) - 6.6
Like The Grinch, Peter Rabbit was a novel first and foremost, but it was made most famous by the cartoon The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends, the first British cartoon on the list. And though it didn’t reach massive audiences in the U.S., it’s beloved across the pond.
The 2018 adaptation is massively faithful to the series, as it’s clever, funny, heartfelt, and everything that’s to be expected of a Peter Rabbit movie. And it was such a success that there’s a sequel arriving this summer.
Paddington (2014) - 7.2
Paddington was a huge success upon its release, mostly due to word of mouth. Before its release, nobody was particularly hyped about Paddington, and a British movie about a stuffed bear was barely on anyone’s radar, but it ended up being one of the most beloved kid’s movies of recent years.
Paddington does what any good kids' movie does by featuring a whimsical narrative aimed towards children with cheeky gags aimed at parents, but the balance was just perfect.
Paddington 2 (2017) - 7.8
With Ben Whishaw again perfectly voicing the British bear, Paddington 2 has become the actor’s best movie, and that isn’t because he hasn’t been any in good movies, but because the sequel is actually that good.
At one point, Paddington 2 was actually the best-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes, beating out classics like Citizen Kane and The Godfather. And according to Variety, just a few months ago, a second sequel even entered production.