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Published Feb 20, 2026, 8:05 PM EST
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Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapDisney’s live-action remakes are always a gamble. Some of these films land with critics and audiences alike, but many fail to capture the magic of the original and fade into obscurity. Lately, they're being met with more controversies around gender and ethnic representation, too. However, a recent live-action adaptation that was met with mixed reviews at the time of its release seems to be finding a second life on streaming years after its theatrical run. The spike is especially interesting given that the seven-year-old Will Smith-starrer has not been in the news cycle recently, which means viewers are rediscovering it organically.
The film, helmed by Guy Ritchie, was released in May 2019 with a production budget of $183 million. The adaptation was a box office success and crossed $1 billion worldwide to become the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year. As of now, it ranks as the eighth-most-expensive and third-highest-grossing Disney live-action remake. The film holds a 57% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, against a 94% audience rating, which perfectly mirrors its divided reception. Though streaming numbers are starting to tell a different story now.
Ritchie’s Aladdin entered Disney+’s Top 10 list in the U.S. on February 18 and is currently sitting at #10. Not just that, the live-action remake also hit #9 on Disney+ in Hungary on both February 14 and February 16. It remains to be seen whether this is the beginning of a sustained climb or just a momentary spike. For now, though, the Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott musical fantasy is officially back on the audience’s radar.
The Tragic Fate of the ‘Aladdin’ Live Action Sequel
In 2020, Ritchie announced that a sequel to his live-action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin was officially in the works, with writers John Gatins and Andrea Berloff attached. Unfortunately, though, the follow-up received little to no updates after that. In October 2025, an X fan account for Scott shared screenshots of a conversation in which the star debunked viral rumors that filming on the sequel would begin the following year and called the reports "completely fake."
Massoud has also taken to social media in the past to express his disappointment over Aladdin being unlikely to receive a follow-up despite crossing the billion-dollar mark. Meanwhile, Ritchie moved on to another Disney project and was tapped to direct the live-action remake of Hercules in 2022 alongside producers Joe and Anthony Russo. However, the film has been in production limbo since then, and Ritchie is reportedly no longer attached to it.
Regardless of all that, Disney’s live-action remake pipeline is not slowing down. The studio is gearing up for the release of Moana on July 10, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia stepping into the titular role.
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Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage of Disney live-action remakes: streaming resurgences like Aladdin, sequel developments, and context on the remake landscape that helps you understand studio decisions. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The live-action adaptation of Aladdin is available to stream on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Aladdin
Like PG Adventure Fantasy Romance Family Release Date May 22, 2019 Runtime 127 minutes Director Guy Ritchie Writers John August Producers Kevin De La Noy, Dan LinCast
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Will Smith
Genie / Mariner
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Mena Massoud
Aladdin
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Naomi Scott
Jasmine
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Marwan Kenzari
Jafar
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Will Smith
Get the newsletter for smart Disney remake coverage
Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage of Disney live-action remakes: streaming resurgences like Aladdin, sequel developments, and context on the remake landscape that helps you understand studio decisions. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.What To Watch
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