10 Movies Disney Should Remake Using The Muppets

It’s no secret that a large portion of Disney‘s revenue in recent years has come from rebooting earlier films. From Cinderella to The Lion King and beyond, Disney has been producing live-action remakes of tons of their classic animated films, with even more of these projects currently in the works. However, one must begin to wonder whether straightforward, live-action recreations are really the most effective way for Disney to bring these classic stories back to life. With many of the live-action remakes garnering less-than-stellar reviews, one must start to question whether Disney should consider exploring an alternate path.

Fortunately, one Disney property could open many doors for the company. Back in 2004, Disney made a deal in which they received ownership of the beloved group of colorful performers known as the Muppets. With audiences growing tired of live-action adaptations that don’t do much to enhance the original stories, Disney ought to consider capitalizing on their access to the Muppets when remaking their beloved films. Now, with rumors that Disney World’s only Muppet-based attraction may be closing soon, fans are clamoring for Disney to find new ways to use these beloved characters, and these films offer excellent solutions.

10 Beauty and the Beast (1991)

A Timeless Love Story Built for a Colorful Cast

A true Disney classic, 1991’s Beauty and the Beast has been a beloved, heartwarming story for decades. This musical masterpiece tells the story of the budding romance between Belle and the titular Beast, a former prince who had been cursed to appear as a hideous creature.

The original film is among the most popular of Disney’s animated features, and is one of only three animated films to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Beauty and the Beast features a large ensemble of characters of all shapes and sizes, perfect for any Muppet production.

With plenty of both humor and heart alike, the film would offer plenty of room for all the characters to do what they do best. Plus, as it is tradition for there to always be at least one human character in every Muppet movie, a humorous opportunity could easily be seized by having the Beast played by the only human actor. The possibilities with retelling this tale as old as time are truly endless.

9 Fantasia (1940)

A Muppet-Led Musical Anthology Would Be a Blast

Even some of Disney’s earliest animated features have massive potential when it comes to being given a new life with the Muppets. In 1940, Disney released the musical anthology film, Fantasia, a groundbreaking showcase of the wonders of Disney animation. While the magic of the original Fantasia could never truly be recreated, the idea of making a film in a similar style seems to have boatloads of amusing possibilities.

Instead of following a single narrative for the entire duration of the film, a Muppet-led version of Fantasia would allow for numerous short stories to be acted out by various beloved Muppet characters, all to the tune of a wonderful symphony orchestra. However, while it would be great to see some all-new segments set to other iconic pieces of classical music, it would also certainly please audiences to see how Kermit the Frog would fare in a retelling of the classic Sorcerer’s Apprentice chapter.

8 The Avengers (2012)

In late 2009, Disney took another major step in expanding its entertainment empire when it signed a deal giving the company ownership of Marvel Entertainment. This, of course, led to the astronomical growth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU), with seemingly innumerable amounts of Marvel movies and television shows being released in the following years.

The Muppets’ track record of celebrity cameos would also pave the way for humorous appearances by various celebrities who have appeared in other popular installments in the MCU.

Now, as storylines evolve and characters come and go, audiences are going to miss seeing the original Avengers in all their glory; Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, the list goes on. By using the Muppets to remake the original 2012 film, The Avengers, Marvel would have the opportunity to bring all of these characters back to their loving audiences without having to tamper with the existing storylines of the MCU.

The film would surely lean more into the silly side of the superhero universe, allowing for an experience that is both action-packed and family-friendly. The Muppets’ track record of celebrity cameos would also pave the way for humorous appearances by various celebrities who have appeared in other popular installments in the MCU.

7 Tangled (2010)

A Funny Rapunzel Family Adventure

Disney’s 2010 animated feature, Tangled, puts a clever new spin on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, “Rapunzel.” The musical film, which has ballooned in popularity over the years, has all the elements of any great Muppet movie; lovable characters, plenty of humor, and even some romance.

While Miss Piggy and Kermit feel like guarantees to play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the movie also offers plenty of other scene-stealing roles that would allow many different Muppets to have their turn in the spotlight. Another major factor in why Tangled would thrive as a Muppet movie is the award-winning music throughout the film.

The Muppets are no strangers to both splashy tunes and heartfelt ballads, with music playing a significant role in most of their productions. Tangled offers plenty of original songs that are well-written and catchy, but also flexible enough that they wouldn’t sound out-of-place being sung by the silly voices of the Muppets. A Muppet-led version of Tangled would surely feature one showstopping number after another.

6 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

A Silly Twist On the Iconic Franchise

Another major acquisition for Disney came in 2012, when the company purchased Lucasfilm, and thus, the entire Star Wars franchise. Now, Disney has surely tried to do as much as possible with the franchise over the years – there is a massive pile of evidence of this, coming in the form of movies, television shows, theme park rides, games, and more – but they have not yet explored the possibility of a Star Wars/Muppets crossover (aside from a single episode of The Muppet Show from 1980).

Seeing how beloved the franchise has become, it feels as though it would make sense for Disney to explore this concept, which would certainly provide a comedic twist on the classic films.

After all, Family Guy proved that remaking Star Wars with a colorful cast of beloved characters has the potential to be a huge success. The potential for every aspect of the film (the characters, the settings, the spacecrafts) is incredible, with the endless creativity of the team behind the Muppets sure to create something fans of both franchises would adore.

5 Hercules (1997)

A Muppet Story of Mythic Proportions

The Muppets have recreated various fairy tales and even some classic novels over the years, but they have yet to significantly take the dive into exploring the world of Greek mythology. A retelling of Disney’s beloved version of the story of Hercules would offer the famous characters an easy way to transition into this new area of storytelling.

Hercules tells the story of the titular son of Zeus, who must work hard and become a hero in order to return to his rightful spot on Mount Olympus. Hercules presents a rare opportunity for audiences to see how various mythical creatures would appear in the world of Muppets.

The possibilities inherent in creating a Muppet-ized satyr, Pegasus, centaur and much more would definitely be an exciting project for the creative team. Along with an inspiring story and tons of catchy tunes, Hercules is a Disney classic that is sure to be a hit when retold for a modern audience. The upcoming West End musical adaptation proves that the story is still as popular as ever, and perfect for a reimagination.

4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

A Fun Opportunity for the Muppets to Return to the High Seas

Though the Muppets have already set sail before with their 1996 film, Muppet Treasure Island, a remake of the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl could be a fun, exciting way for them to experience pirate life once again. Based on the theme park ride of the same name, the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was a huge success, both critically and commercially.

Unfortunately, as the franchise expanded, not every addition proved to be quite as successful. The Muppets could effectively rejuvenate this nautical franchise, albeit with a slightly less intimidating cast of characters. Audiences love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies for their swashbuckling fun, and it is hard to imagine a better way to complement this humorous side of pirate life than with some of the most amusing performers around.

With a vast assortment of characters and plenty of pirate shenanigans, a Muppet-helmed remake of this Disney film would be a blast for viewers of all ages. It would also open the door to future sequels, if the film proves to be an overwhelming success.

3 The Incredibles (2004)

A Chance for the First Collaboration Between The Muppets and Pixar

Even if a Marvel/Muppet collaboration proves to be impossible, a remake of Disney/Pixar’s 2004 hit, The Incredibles, would serve as another exciting way of getting some superpowered Muppets on the big screen.

With Disney having access to all of Pixar’s extensive filmography, it seems only proper to explore whether the idea of a Pixar/Muppet crossover has any merit. Of Pixar’s many popular films, The Incredibles seems like the best option for a number of reasons.

The Incredibles tells the story of a family of superheroes living in a world in which it has become illegal for people to have superpowers. Though it has its fair share of superhero-filled action sequences, The Incredibles is, at its core, a movie about the importance of family and togetherness.

These ideas have been a staple of Muppet productions for years, meaning that a retelling of The Incredibles would fit right in with the rest of the Muppets’ filmography. Additionally, seeing Jim Henson’s lovable characters be given their own superpowers would certainly be a ton of fun for the audience.

2 Frozen (2013)

An Ultra-Popular Story Ready to Be Retold

While Disney has released countless beloved animated features over the years, few have skyrocketed in terms of popularity quite as much as Frozen. The instant-classic 2013 film tells the story of Anna and Elsa, two royal sisters in the kingdom of Arendelle, the latter of whom has magical abilities allowing her to control ice and snow.

Frozen
offers Disney an exciting opportunity to help introduce the Muppets to a younger audience, one that may not be too familiar with their previous movies and shows.

Backed by its heartwarming story and impressive soundtrack, Frozen feels like a prime candidate to be remade by Disney, and the Muppets offer a fun, refreshing way to do so. Frozen offers Disney an exciting opportunity to help introduce the Muppets to a younger audience, one that may not be too familiar with their previous movies and shows.

After all, with various sequels, shorts films, and theme park attractions, Frozen has consistently proven that anything associated with its charming story and lovable characters is bound to be incredibly popular. A Muppet-led remake of Frozen would not only entertain audiences with a new version of the story, but it could bring more notoriety to the Muppets themselves, a rather underappreciated Disney property nowadays.

1 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

An Incredible Movie Directed By Henry Selick

Though far from a typical Disney animated feature, The Nightmare Before Christmas offers a lively, fun holiday story that presents plenty of entertaining opportunities for the Muppets. The iconic stop-motion film by Henry Selick and Tim Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, who decides he wants to take over running Christmas for a change.

Over the years, the film has become increasingly popular, and has truly evolved into a holiday staple for audiences around the world. With the success of The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, it is surprising that Disney hasn’t made many more attempts to capture the magic of the holidays using the Muppets since then.

Having the Muppets retell the classic story of The Nightmare Before Christmas would allow the beloved performers to have a new film audiences can come back to year after year. Additionally, a collaboration between Jim Henson’s characters and Tim Burton would certainly be an exciting way to combine the talents of two deeply creative individuals.