Disney released a large number of live-action movies during the 2010s. While many of these films including Beauty and the Beast, Christopher Robin, and The Muppets were successful, not every one was a winner. Being that we already covered the best Disney movies of the 2010s, we’re here to focus on the worst now. Rather thank ranking them ourselves, however, we’re turning to IMDb for answers.
The popular entertainment website has assigned every live-action Disney film a star rating based on the votes of registered users on a scale of 1 to 10. We’ll be using this score as our guide. Additionally, it’s worth noting that we’ll only be including feature films that were originally released in the United States on this list. With the logistics out of the way, it’s time to dive into all the magic – and lack thereof – in these recent movies. Here are the worst Disney films of the decade, according to IMDb.
Oz The Great And Powerful (2013) - 6.3
Set 20 years before the events of the original Wizard of Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful tells of a Kansas magician who meets three witches in the enchanting land he stumbles into, Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda. As he works hard to turn everything right in Oz, he is forced to figure out the troubles that ensue between him and the witches.
The visuals, performances, and wonder of the film was praised by many. However, the story didn’t hold up quite as well.
Dumbo (2019) - 6.3
Disney’s classic animation about Dumbo, a circus elephant with large ears that let him fly, was turned into a live-action film 2019. Soon after Dumbo causes an accident, he is forced to perform as a clown. However, after accidentally learning of his flight abilities, he soon impresses everyone around him – including himself.
The Tim Burton movie received mixed to average reviews, with many feeling that the simple enchantment of the original had become over-grown with unnecessary plot points and a sense of gloom.
Noelle (2019) - 6.3
This Disney+ original has Bill Hader taking on the role of Nick, the newest Santa Claus, and Anna Kendrick taking on that of the eponymous Noelle, his sister. Noelle is disappointed by the lack of important Christmas-related responsibilities she has, so when Nick (who is failing at his Santa training) disappears, it’s up to her to step in and save the holiday.
The film was charming enough, although its impact felt average at best to many.
Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016) - 6.2
The live-action Alice in Wonderland sequel had the titular character slipping through a mirror and ending up in Underland, where a colorful cast of characters await. After learning that the Mad Hatter’s family has been lost, Alice hopes to revive them by stealing the Chronosphere from Time and heading to the past.
Though the film had gorgeous visuals, its story and characters were not as impactful as those in the original.
Alexander & The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014) - 6.2
Based on the children’s book of the same name, this family comedy told of an eleven-year-old boy who ends up having one of the most disastrous days of his life. Though young Alexander starts to believe that he is the only one who has bad things happen to him, he soon finds his own family falling victim to awful days of their own.
Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day was fine but not memorable. At the very least, it was bolstered by a strong cast and a funny script.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) - 6.1
Though Dave thinks he’s normal, wizard Balthazar Blake does not. Dave has a sorcery talent, and it’s not long before he gets pulled into the wizard’s magic lessons. As the evil Horvath and Morgana scheme to unleash the souls of dead sorcerers on Manhattan and the world, the good guys work hard to defend against them.
Though the CGI was well-done and the cast was generally liked, critics felt that the story contained too many cliches and lacked anything special.
Into The Woods (2014) - 5.9
The classic Broadway play known as Into the Woods received a movie retelling in 2014. This fantasy has a baker and his wife who, unable to have a child, make a deal with a witch in exchange for a baby. All they have to do is collect a white cow, yellow hair, a red cape, and a golden slipper within three days. As the couple’s adventure continues, they encounter classic fairytale characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack. Soon enough, however, they all learn that happy endings aren’t all they seem.
Meryl Streep’s performance received a round of applause as did the rest of the cast. The stage-to-screen transition, on the other hand, was criticized for its clunky tone shift.
The Nutcracker & The Four Realms (2018) - 5.5
Disney put its own spin on the Nutcracker by releasing this 2018 fantasy reimagining. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms has Clara journeying through whimsical lands in an attempt to uncover a special key. It is said to unlock an egg-shaped box she receives on Christmas Eve in London.
Though the film was visually enchanting, it lacked genuine emotion, creative dance routines, and a story worth remembering.
Prom (2011) - 5.4
Disney took viewers back to senior year with the release of Prom. This 2011 teen romance followed the lives of several high school students as they prepare for the final big event of their young lives. Between tracking down dates, sorting out relationships, and planning for the future, the couples have a lot to figure out.
Critics weren’t impressed by the film and found it to be cheesy and cliche. Despite this, it remained pretty entertaining.
A Wrinkle In Time (2018) - 4.2
Though this fantasy adventure film featured a star-studded cast including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling, it fell short of success. Based on the 1962 novel of the same name, A Wrinkle in Time tells of two siblings whose scientist father leaves them after discovering a planet. It’s not long, though, until the children and a friend go on an adventure of their own alongside three magical women known as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which.
While critics liked the heart of the film, they also believed too much was going on.
