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14 positive things that happened on Friday the 13th

13 June 2025 at 16:50
Shigeru Miyamoto attends a Special Screening of Universal Pictures' "The Super Mario Bros." at Regal LA Live on April 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
The original "Super Mario Bros." debuted on a Friday the 13th in 1985.

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images

  • June 13 is a Friday.
  • Traditionally, Friday the 13th is considered a "cursed" date, but it doesn't have to be.
  • President Johnson signed an executive order preventing gender discrimination on October 13, 1967.

Friday the 13th has a long history of freaking people out.

When this day rolls around, people buy and travel less. In fact, the global economy is estimated to lose as much as $900 million every time a Friday lands on the 13th.

However, the Dutch Center for Insurance Statistics reported in 2008 that Friday the 13th is actually statistically safer than other Fridays β€” there are fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft on these days.

If that doesn't convince you, keep scrolling to learn about some positive events that took place on a Friday the 13th.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an executive order preventing gender discrimination in the government.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Medical Bill as H.H. humphrey looks at LBJ's watch, and Harry Truman also looks on.
The order amended Executive Order No. 11246.

Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

While Title VII officially prevented discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and sex for private employers, it wasn't until Executive Order 11375 that discrimination based on gender was illegal for the federal government and federal contractors.

President Johnson signed the order, which was officially titled Amending Executive Order No. 11246, Relating to Equal Employment Opportunity, on October 13, 1967.

Malta became a republic.
Sailing boats on Senglea marina in Grand Bay, Valetta, Malta
Valletta is the capital of Malta.

Dado Daniela/Getty Images

The tiny Mediterranean country of Malta first became independent of the British in 1964, but officially became a republic on December 13, 1974.

Even though it's small, Malta is an underrated place to visit.

Evelyn "Pinky" Kilgare-Brier became the first certified female pilot instructor.
wasp female pilots
During World War II, Kilgare-Brier joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

Acme/PhotoQuest/Getty Images

According to the National Museum of the US Air Force, Kilgare-Brier became the first woman to receive an airplane instructor's license on October 13, 1939.

She was an important figure for women in aviation. She also flew non-combat missions during World War II, and after the war she owned and operated her own private airport, according to her obituary in the Los Angeles Times.

The Olympics officially returned to their home country.
US Michael Phelps poses on the podium after winning the gold medal of the men's 400m individual medley final, at the 2004 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatic Center in Athens, 14 August 2004
Michael Phelps won his first gold medals at the 2004 Olympics.

TIM CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

The 2004 Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, the country where they started, both in ancient and modern times. The opening ceremony took place on August 13.

It was the largest Olympic Games at the time, with 201 countries participating. Michael Phelps also won his first Olympic medal and broke his first record in Athens.

The queens of the '90s, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, were born.
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019
The twins in 2019.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Vogue/Getty Images for The Met Museum

The Olsen twins were born on June 13, 1986.

They famously got their start on "Full House" and went on to create an empire: books, videos, perfume, clothing lines, and much more.

"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" premiered on Friday, October 13, 2023.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Brazil.
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Brazil.

Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989 β€” her birthday landed on Friday the 13th last year β€” and she has repeatedly said that 13 is her favorite number. She even used to perform with "13" drawn on her hand.

As part of her 13 agenda, her blockbuster concert film "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" premiered in theaters on Friday, October 13, 2023. It went on to become the highest-grossing concert film of all time after grossing $261 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

The first scientifically recognized dinosaur eggs were discovered.
Roy Chapman Andrews Looking at Egg
Roy Chapman Andrews examining his discovery.

Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first dinosaur eggs at a dig in Mongolia on July 13, 1923, according to the American Museum of Natural History.

Scientifically, this was huge for the field of paleontology, confirming that dinosaurs laid eggs. The museum was so impressed that Andrews went on to become its director from 1935 to 1942.

The famous Hollywood sign was dedicated.
Hollywood sign
The sign originally read "Hollywoodland" until 1949.

Paul Rovere/Getty Images

The Hollywood sign is an iconic piece of California culture. But when it was officially dedicated on July 13, 1923, it wasn't even supposed to last for more than two years.

Originally, the sign was installed to promote a new subdivision in the Hollywood Hills.

"Super Mario Bros." was released.
Universal Studios Hollywood promotes their upcoming Super Mario Bros themed 'Super Nintendo World' expansion to their theme park on the Universal CityWalk on September 26, 2022
Mario is one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

"Super Mario Bros.," one of the most iconic video games in history, was released on September 13, 1985, exclusively in Japan, perΒ The Verge.

Since then, Mario has been in approximately 170 games, including wildly successful spin-offs like "Mario Kart," "Mario Party," and "Paper Mario."

A "significant amount" of water was found on the Moon.
The moon 'supermoon' is seen over the stadium during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D match between China and England at Hindmarsh Stadium on August 01, 2023
Project scientist Anthony Colaprete made the announcement.

Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA/Getty Images

A lunar space station has long been the subject of science fiction novels, but on November 13, 2009, that dream took one step closer to reality when NASA announced they found water on the Moon.

How much is a "significant amount"? According to NASA's Anthony Colaprete, around a dozen 2-gallon bucketfuls.

Black Sabbath released their debut album and invented heavy metal.
Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage at iHeartRadio ICONS with Ozzy Osbourne: In Celebration of Ordinary Man at iHeartRadio Theater on February 24, 2020 in Burbank, California.
Ozzy Osbourne in 2020.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

The 69th best debut album of all time, at least according to Rolling Stone, Black Sabbath's self-titled album was released on February 13, 1970.

The album is widely regarded as having created the genre of heavy metal, with instant classics like "NIB." and "The Wizard."

Actor Steve Buscemi was born.
Steve Buscemi in April 2023.
Steve Buscemi attends Peacock's "Bupkis" premiere at the Apollo Theater on Thursday, April 27, 2023, in New York.

Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Steve Buscemi was born on December 13, 1957 β€” yes, he shares a birthday with Taylor Swift. Buscemi might be famous as an actor, but he also has a lesser-known second career: a New York City firefighter.

Buscemi became an NYC firefighter at age 18. He eventually left the service to pursue acting, but in the aftermath of 9/11, Buscemi helped with rescue efforts and worked 12-hour shifts sifting through the rubble.

"Friday the 13th Part III" was released.
Friday the 13th Paramount
"Part III" was the first time Jason wore his mask.

Paramount

Of the iconic "Friday the 13th" movie saga, "Part III" was the first to actually open on Friday the 13th (August 13, 1982), the first to experiment with 3D, and the first appearance of Jason's mask.

Even though the movie was critically panned, the movie made over $36 million against a $2.3 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo.

Friday the 13th is always the last day before the weekend.
sleeping
Who doesn't love sleeping in?

Yale Joel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

If all else fails to convince you that Friday the 13th isn't a cursed date, just remember this: It's the last day of the workweek. Fridays are the best!

Read the original article on Business Insider

19 terrible things that happened on Friday the 13th

13 June 2025 at 14:58
Chris Adamski stands in the middle of South Ellington Street after an unprecedented storm, in Depew, New York, October 13, 2006.
The "October Surprise" snowstorm in Buffalo was on a Friday the 13th.

Gary Wiepert/Reuters

  • June 13 is a Friday.
  • Friday the 13th has been a superstitious date for a very long time, but no one knows exactly why.
  • There are multiple examples of terrible or tragic events happening on these Fridays in history.

Friday the 13th is so famously unlucky that there's even a phobia dedicated to it: friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Even if you personally don't put stock in this fear, there are a lot of people who do. The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute even estimated in 2013 that between $800 and $900 million are lost in business every Friday the 13th because people are afraid to shop, travel, and conduct business.

Luckily for believers, this is the only Friday the 13th of 2025. The next one isn't until February 2026.

But if you still think it's just a superstition, these events might be enough to convince even the most determined skeptic.

Buckingham Palace was bombed during WWII.
Queen Elizabeth (1900 - 2002) and King George VI (1895 - 1952) inspect the bomb damage at Buckingham Palace in London, after an air raid during the Blitz, 10th September 1940.
Queen Elizabeth and King George VI survey the damage.

Fox Photos/Getty Images

German forces during WWII bombed Buckingham Palace on September 13, 1940. The bombs hit both the palace and its chapel.

Even scarier, the king and queen were at the residence at the time of the attack. Even though the event was traumatic, Queen Elizabeth II β€” then a princess β€” merely stated she was "glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face," the BBC reported.

March 13, 2020, could be considered the first official day of the pandemic in the US.
In this photo illustration a woman puts a sign saying "no face mask no entry" in a shop window on September 14, 2020 in Newport, Wales
Masks were seemingly everywhere in just a few short days.

Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

After a week of increasingly heartbreaking COVID-19 updates, then-President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to the pandemic.

Tupac Shakur died.
Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for photos backstage after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994.
Tupac Shakur was shot on a Saturday but died six days later on the 13th.

Getty/Raymond Boyd

Shakur was shot four times on September 7, 1996, in Las Vegas. He succumbed to his injuries six days later on Friday, September 13.

In September 2023, police arrested one of the last surviving witnesses to his killing for the murder. Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a jury in Clark County, Nevada, on one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, plus a gang enhancement.

The arrest came after Davis spoke multiple times publicly β€” including in a memoir β€” about his involvement in the case. Davis, who remains in custody, pleaded not guilty in November 2023.

A British 13-year-old boy was struck by lightning on a Friday the 13th, at 13:13.
Lightning bolts strike One World Trade Center in New York City as it fans out over the Hudson River and Jersey City, New Jersey during a thunderstorm on April 1, 2023
13:13 is 1:13 in military time.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

The Daily Mail reported that the unnamed teenager was struck by lightning while at an air show in England in 2010 and, incredibly, only sustained burns on his shoulder. The hospital said he was expected to make a full recovery.

Kitty Genovese, a Queens resident, was brutally attacked and murdered.
Studio photo of Catherine "Kitty" Genovese, 28. Lips closed and no help was offered when Kitty was knifed on Austin Street in Kew Gardens, in a crime that disgraced New York City
Kitty Genovese's murder is an infamous New York story.

New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News/Getty Images

The murder of Kitty Genovese took place on March 13, 1964. The New York Times reported Genovese was assaulted and killed by Winston Moseley inside her apartment building. The crime is famous because, reportedly, 38 people heard the attack, and none of them called the police, making the "bystander effect" a household term.

It was later suggested that the reporting of the crime was inaccurate and greatly exaggerated. No matter the specifics, an innocent woman died.

The Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Italy.
Costa Concordia
The Costa Concordia laid on its side.

REUTERS / Tony Gentile

The Costa Concordia sank into the ocean on January 13, 2012. It became the largest passenger ship ever wrecked, with almost double the number of people on board than on the Titanic.

Thirty-two people died, and the captain was convicted of manslaughter in 2015.

Kansas experienced record-breaking amounts of rain and flooding.
kansas flood 1951
People pushed boats through flood water in Kansas in 1951.

Francis Miller/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

On July 13, 1951, the state of Kansas was hit with over 25 inches of rain. The cities of Manhattan, Lawrence, and Topeka were most affected, and over 2 million acres of land were damaged by the flood.

The storm also affected oil tanks, some of which caught on fire and exploded. There were passengers stuck on trains for four days. And, at its highest, the flooding exceeded previous records by 4 to 9 feet.

The people of Kansas were not wrong to call this day "Black Friday."

The stock market experienced a "mini-crash" in 1989.
A trader reacts during the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on February 28, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City
"Mini" is a relative term.

JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

After the buyout of United Airlines fell through on October 13, 1989, the ripples were felt throughout the stock market, specifically the junk bond market.

CNBC reported this resulted in a 7% sell-off in the Dow, and the S&P 500 lost 6%. Essentially, a lot of people lost a lot of money.

A flight through the Andes ended in disaster and death.
andes plane crash
This event has been dramatized in multiple films.

Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Uruguayan Flight 571 was headed toward Chile when it crash-landed in the Andes on October 13, 1972. In the following days, the survivors were reduced to hiding in the fuselage of the plane and eating the deceased passengers.

The rescue efforts were called off only 10 days after the crash, so it was shocking when two men appeared 72 days later and alerted the authorities that there were 16 other survivors trapped in the mountains.

On that same day, another flight crashed in Russia.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 owned by CITYJET an Irish airline, leased to Brussels Airlines. Brussels airlines leased 5 of the SSJ100 aircrafts from CITYJET.
The plane was headed to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images

At the time, the tragedy of Aeroflot 217 was the worst plane crash in Russian history. All 174 people on board the flight (including the 10 crew members) died when the plane crashed while trying to land due to bad weather.

It's never been confirmed what the cause of the crash was β€” some speculate it was a lightning strike. The plane ended up just 3 miles away from the runway.

The Ku Klux Klan's first Grand Wizard was born.
Two Ku Klux Klansmen with American Flag and Burning Cross
The KKK has been around since 1865.The Bhola cyclone hit Bangladesh.

Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on July 13, 1821. Forrest first rose to fame as a Confederate general and was in charge of the infamous Fort Pillow Massacre, where he and his men reportedly killed over 200 unarmed Union soldiers who had surrendered (many of whom were Black).

Forrest is widely believed to have served as the KKK's first Grand Wizard, though he would later decree that the organization should be demolished, PBS reported.

Computers fell victim to the "Friday the 13th Virus."
Node.js coding
The virus affected computers made by IBM.

Shutterstock / photovibes

On January 13, 1989, a computer virus swept through the UK. The Los Angeles Times reported hundreds of computers were affected by the virus, which deleted personal files specifically on the unlucky date.

The virus also slowed computers down, but fortunately didn't cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bhola cyclone ravaged Bangladesh.
cyclone damage
Some of the damage from the cyclone.

AP Images

The storm officially ended on November 13, 1970, but its effects are still being felt today.

The Bhola cyclone is still the deadliest storm in the Bay of Bengal β€” the death toll is estimated to be from 150,000 to 550,000, NBC News reported. One district in Bangladesh lost over 45% of its population.

In addition to being deadly and extremely costly, the cyclone is credited with jump-starting a civil war. At the time of the storm, the area was called East Pakistan. The Pakistani mismanagement of the relief efforts was considered to be a huge event in the fight for Bangladeshi independence.

Swedish flight DC-3 vanished and was never heard from again.
baltic sea from space nasa
The Baltic Sea from space.

NASA

A Swedish flight disappeared while flying over the Baltic Sea on June 13, 1952. And for 40 years, the Swedish government stuck by the story that the plane was merely performing training exercises.

However, National Geographic wrote that in the '90s, it was leaked that the crewmembers were actually spying on the Soviet Union for NATO, even though Sweden was officially neutral during the Cold War.

Russia responded with its own confession: A Russian pilot told a Swedish diplomat he had shot the plane down.

The city of Buffalo, New York, was hit with a freak blizzard.
Snowstorm blizzard
Buffalo is no stranger to snow.

Reuters/Rickey Rogers

It's been called the "October Surprise." From October 12 to October 13, 2006, western New York was hit with two feet of snow. Over 300,000 people were left without power, thousands of trees were damaged, and the governor of New York declared a state of emergency for the Buffalo region.

The Black Friday bushfires consumed Victoria, Australia.
california wildfires
Wildfires are common in the summer months.

Associated Press/Noah Berger

The fires in Victoria from 1939 to 1940 were the culmination of a long, dry summer. But on January 13, 1939, the Black Friday bushfires consumed the area: 71 people died directly from the fire, another 438 from the resulting heatwave, and 575,000 hectares of land were burned to a crisp.

The ash that resulted from the two days of flames was intense. There were reports of it reaching as far as New Zealand.

In September 2024, Boeing employees went on strike for the first time since 2008.
A worker holding up two signs that say "Machinists union on strike against Boeing."
Thousands of Boeing IAM union members were on strike for seven weeks.

Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

The 2024 Boeing machinists strike began on Friday, September 13, 2024, and lasted until November 4.

For almost two months, Boeing strikers were without salary or benefits, while the company lost an estimated $50 million a day in lost labor.

At one point, tensions were so high between the union and management that the US Labor secretary herself, Julie Su, flew out to Seattle to mediate.

The strike ended when union members voted to accept a new contract from Boeing that included pay increases.

Daredevil Sam Patch plunged to his death in the Genesee River in 1829.
A waterfall on the Genesee River in Rochester, New York State. The High Bridge can be seen in the background
The site of Patch's last stunt.

William England/Getty Images

Sam Patch was America's first professional daredevil, according to Atlas Obscura. Throughout his life, he jumped from many great heights, including Niagara Falls twice.

So, when he decided to jump from the High Falls into the Genesee River in Rochester, New York, no one thought to be concerned, but it quickly became apparent that something was wrong.

While some speculated that he was drunk, it's never been known for sure what exactly happened to Patch when he jumped into the river. But on November 13, Patch jumped, and his body was found four months later.

In 2029, an asteroid could come extremely close to Earth.
asteroid meteor armageddon shutterstock
The asteroid was named 99942 Apophis.

Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock

According to NASA, an asteroid, 99942 Apophis., is expected to come within 20,000 miles of the Earth on April 13, 2029. This might not seem like a big deal, but it's actually extremely close in relation to space.

Although it's not expected to hit our planet, the closeness of the asteroid could cause damage on its surface β€” the gravity of Earth might cause avalanches on Apophis. And while NASA says it is expected to pass Earth "safely," it still calls it a "potentially hazardous asteroid."

Read the original article on Business Insider

All 19 Disney live-action remakes ranked from tolerable to downright unwatchable

28 May 2025 at 16:34
Stitch spraying a drink dispenser while standing on a bar in "Lilo and Stitch"
"Lilo & Stitch."

Disney

  • In 2010, Disney began releasing live-action remakes of some of its classic animated films in earnest.
  • While most were successful at the box office, their artistic value has been questioned.
  • In almost every case, the original animated film is superior to its live-action remake.

Remaking animated films or TV shows in live-action is becoming more frequent in Hollywood β€” just look at shows like "Avatar: The Last Airbender," "One Piece," and "Cowboy Bebop."

But the studio that has done this most successfully β€” and most frequently β€” is Disney. There have been 19 live-action remakes or reimaginings of its classic animated films, give or take a few additional sequels.

While not all of them have been well-reviewed β€” and, arguably, they're mediocre at best β€” most of these movies made a lot of money at the box office. For example, "Beauty and the Beast," "Alice in Wonderland," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King" all crossed the $1 billion mark, according to Box Office Mojo data β€” and with the way that "Lilo & Stitch" has been overperforming this month, the House of Mouse may have another billion-dollar movie on its hands.

We ranked these movies based on their quality, the changes made from the source material, casting, and more.

Here are all 19 live-action remakes, ranked from worst to best β€”Β in our opinion.

19. "Alice in Wonderland" (2010)
a still from the 2016 film alice through the looking glass
"Alice Through the Looking Glass."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Alice in Wonderland" has aged poorly, from its star to its aesthetic. It's been 15 years since it was released in 2010, and since then, director Tim Burton has only become less beloved by audiences ("Wednesday" on Netflix and the nostalgia of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" aside). His whimsical goth vision ages this movie β€” everything sort of looks like it came straight out of Hot Topic.

Additionally, Johnny Depp's performance as the Mad Hatter, which was grating at the time, now feels harder to watch after his myriad controversies.

This movie did make over $1 billion worldwide (enough to justify an even worse sequel in 2016, "Alice Through the Looking Glass"), but we venture to say if you turned this on now, you'd barely make it to Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

18. "Pinocchio" (2022)
a still from the 2022 live-action adaptation of Pinocchio
"Pinocchio."

Disney+

Point-blank, "Pinocchio" is scary to look at, and the less we say about this 2022 movie, the better.

Pinocchio, the character, has veered so far into the uncanny valley that it's hard to look at him. Add in a new (and unnecessary) seagull, aggressively voiced by Lorraine Bracco, the sanitation of the original movie's intentionally horrific Pleasure Island sequence, and some bad CGI … and this movie is just a dud.

It went straight to Disney+, so we'll never know how successful it actually was with audiences.

It doesn't help that a superior adaptation of the fairytale this is based on was released the same year: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio." If you want to watch a talking puppet, we'd recommend you stick to that version.

17. "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2010)
a still from the 2010 film the sorcerer's apprentice
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

You might not even remember that the 2010 film "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice" exists.

This is a loose adaptation, but we're counting it. It's based on a segment from the 1940 anthology film "Fantasia" and its 1999 sequel, "Fantasia 2000." In the original short, Mickey Mouse plays an impatient apprentice who is sick of doing chores and decides to steal his master's magic hat, to disastrous effect.

The 2010 live-action version stars Nicolas Cage as the wizened sorcerer, while Jay Baruchel takes on the role of the apprentice.

This movie's main issue is that it's forgettable. It suffers from being, above all else, boring. It has very 2010 action and special effects, and as a result, made $215 million against a $150 million budget, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2010.

This movie is also part of why director Jon Turteltaub and Cage never made "National Treasure 3" β€” at least according to Cage's 2022 interview with GQ β€” and we'll never be over it.

16. "Dumbo" (2019)
a still from the 2019 live-action adaptation of dumbo
"Dumbo."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Was anyone desperate for a remake of the 1941 original "Dumbo," which has very questionable racial politics, a harrowing scene in which Dumbo, a baby elephant, gets drunk and hallucinates, and not much else? We think not.

The 2019 remake, once again directed by Tim Burton, pretty much does away with all of that. There are no crows, no Timothy Q. Mouse, or any talking animals at all β€” Dumbo is silent. Instead, the action is moved to entirely new human characters, who are all forgettable.

That's this movie's biggest sin β€” it doesn't justify its existence at all. And judging by its poor box-office numbers, audiences weren't sure what to think of it, either.

15. "Lady and the Tramp" (2019)
a still from the 2019 live-action adaptation of lady and the tramp
"Lady and the Tramp."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The original "Lady and the Tramp" from 1955 is another example of Disney's problematic past coming back to bite it. "The Siamese Cat Song," sung by cats Si and Am, is so racist that Disney added a disclaimer to the beginning of the film on Disney+.

So, the 2019 remake, which went straight to the streaming service, gets points for fixing that by adding two new cats, Devon and Rex.

Besides that, there's not much else to say about this live-action/CGI hybrid. Unlike "The Lion King" remake, Lady, Tramp, Jock, Trusty, Peg, etc., are played by real dogs and aren't just photorealistic creations. But we'd argue it's just not as fun to see two real dogs doing the famous spaghetti kiss.

14. "101 Dalmatians" (1996)
a still from the 1996 live-action adaptation of 101 dalmatians
"101 Dalmatians."

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

This 1996 remake was the first true live-action adaptation of a Disney movie. We're not exactly sure why this remake of the 1961 animated film was Disney's first attempt, but we like it: It updates the setting to modern-day London, switching Roger from a composer to a video-game designer.

Glenn Close's deliciously unhinged performance as Cruella is what elevates this movie β€” it's probably why we got a Cruella prequel 25 years later.

This was a box-office success β€”Β grossing $320 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo β€” and spawned a 2000 sequel, "102 Dalmatians." Only Close returned from the main cast.

13. "Maleficent" (2014)
a still from the 2016 film maleficent
"Maleficent."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Instead of making a straight-up remake of 1959's "Sleeping Beauty," Disney took a different approach with 2014's "Maleficent."

Rather than centering on Aurora, aka Sleeping Beauty, this film is the story of Maleficent, who is only seen as an evil sorceress in the original. This movie gives her a backstory and a relationship with Aurora's father, Stefan.

While this sounds good in theory, "Maleficent" is perfectly average. Angelina Jolie gives it her all as Maleficent, but the special effects are dated, and the story isn't memorable.

It took five years for a sequel to come out ("Maleficent: Mistress of Evil"), and by then, the momentum from the financial success of "Maleficent" had apparently slowed.

12. "Snow White"
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in "Snow White."
"Snow White."

Disney

It was only a matter of time before Disney took it all the way back to its first animated theatrical release: 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

Sure, Snow White is iconic as the first Disney princess movie, and "Whistle While You Work" and "Heigh-Ho" are permanently part of the Disney canon, but have you watched this movie recently, as an adult? It's boring! That made it ripe for an update.

Unfortunately for almost everyone, the 2025 update just isn't good. Aside from the many, many controversies that plagued this movie from the beginning, there are a few insurmountable problems with the film itself.

First: Gal Gadot. She was compelling in the (first) "Wonder Woman," but she's quite wooden in this role, nowhere near the deliciously evil villain performances we've gotten in other live-action remakes (e.g., Cate Blanchett in "Cinderella" and Melissa McCarthy in "The Little Mermaid). Instead it's what Vulture's Jackson McHenry aptly called a "remarkable anti-performance."

Other issues include the CGI uncanny valley dwarfs (a misguided attempt to reckon with the mistreatment and fetishization of little people across decades of pop culture), confusing (and pointless) lore updates, and new songs that would've been at home in "The Greatest Showman," not paired with songs written in the '30s.

If there's one saving grace in this movie, it's its star, Rachel Zegler. As usual, she is a winning presence on screen, radiating compassion and kindness in every frame. She also has an undeniably beautiful voice, which is more than we can say for some other people who have been cast in these musicals.

11. "Peter Pan & Wendy" (2023)
a still from the 2023 live-action adaptation of peter pan
"Peter Pan & Wendy."

Disney+

"Peter Pan & Wendy" proves that we should probably cool it on "Peter Pan" for a while; did you even know a live-action remake of "Peter Pan" starring Jude Law as Captain Hook, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, and Jim Gaffigan as Mr. Smee was released on Disney+ in 2023?

It's a pity, because this movie is relatively OK. Law is locked in as Captain Hook, and director David Lowery showcases his talent for sweeping landscapes (as seen in "The Green Knight") in his version of Neverland.

Unfortunately, though, this movie just … isn't that interesting.

"Peter Pan" as a story might be cursed β€” "Hook" is only good if you have nostalgia goggles on; 2003's "Peter Pan" was a flop; "Pan" stars a white woman, Rooney Mara, as the Native American character Tiger Lily; and this adaptation is barely remembered.

Give these characters a break, Hollywood.

10. "The Lion King" (2019)
a still from the 2019 live-action adaptation of the lion king
"The Lion King."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

If this were a silent film, 2019's "The Lion King" would be an unparalleled achievement in special effects. But, unfortunately, it's not β€” making the characters photorealistic instead takes all the joy out of the film.

We were forced to sit through some of the most iconic musical sequences in Disney history, like "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Hakuna Matata," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and "Be Prepared," being sung by photorealistic animals who can't emote, in a relatively colorless virtual desert.

Part of the magic of animation is that you can make the animals do anything you want β€” that's why we love the 1994 original so much.

We'll always be thankful that we got BeyoncΓ©'s "The Lion King: The Gift" companion album out of this movie, but that's it. "Mufasa," the prequel that was released in 2024, wasn't anything to write home about either, even if it was slightly better.

9. "Lilo & Stitch" (2025)
Stitch sitting in a chair wearing sunglasses
"Lilo & Stitch."

Disney

Disney's latest live-action offering, "Lilo & Stitch," is a remake of the 2002 animated original β€” that makes it the newest animated film to get a live-action remake. And even though this movie is quite charming (in parts), there's an argument that we could've let another 20 years' worth of kids fall in love with the original movie, an underrated gem.

The live-action remake is fun, but it shares many of the same issues as the other remakes. The colors don't pop in the same way, and the character designs of the aliens don't translate to real life.

The biggest issue that many fans have with this movie is that the ending is completely different from the 2002 classic β€” we won't spoil it for you, but just know that the emphasis on ohana and no one getting left behind from the original is, well, undercut by the resolution the live-action movie finds.

8. "Beauty and the Beast" (2017)
a still from the 2017 live-action adaptation of the beauty and the beast
"Beauty and the Beast."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Beauty and the Beast," released in 2017, was the first of Disney's new wave of live-action remakes. As a result, it was graded on a curve at the time and made $1.2 billion, per Box Office Mojo.

But if you go back and watch this movie eight years later, you might notice something: Emma Watson, for all her charm, is simply not a great singer. And Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in the 1991 original, has one of the clearest voices in all of Disney's history.

There are a few other issues with this movie β€” it's so long, adds unneeded backstory, switches the amazing Beast song from the Broadway adaptation ("I Can't Love Her") in favor of the boring "Evermore," the underwhelming "exclusively gay moment" β€” but our biggest problem is Belle.

7. "Aladdin" (2019)
a still from the 2019 live-action adaptation of aladdin
"Aladdin."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Aladdin," released in 2019, also made $1 billion around the world. In this case, we have no qualms with Mena Massoud or Naomi Scott, who play Aladdin and Jasmine wonderfully.

Who we can't whole-heartedly support is Will Smith, who plays the Genie. Simply put, no one is competing with Robin Williams' iconic performance in the 1992 original. It's a tour-de-force, one of the best voiceover performances ever.

Smith was never going to be able to compete, and the off-putting design of his character and his rap-singing did him no favors.

Also, this movie was, for some reason, directed by Guy Ritchie. Ritchie is known for his action films, and he tried to inject as much action as he could into "Aladdin." But we'd argue this movie doesn't need it! It's a fairy tale about a street urchin falling in love with a princess!

6. "The Little Mermaid" (2023)
a still from the 2023 live-action adaption of the little mermaid
"The Little Mermaid."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Halle Bailey was a perfect choice for Ariel. She has an amazing voice, plays the physical comedy of voiceless Ariel well, and has great chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King, who plays Prince Eric. Melissa McCarthy also turns in a solid performance as Ursula.

What prevents this movie from being truly fun to watch is all the underwater stuff. Everything looks so fake and lifeless. The colors aren't bright enough, and we've once again run into the "Lion King"/"Lady and the Tramp" problem: Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle can't show any emotions on their faces. That's a shame when compared with the 1989 original, where Sebastian, especially, is hilarious in his exasperation and anxiety.

Plus, the new songs are so obviously written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (see "The Scuttlebutt") that they don't mesh well with Howard Ashman's originals.

5. "Mulan" (2020)
a still from the 2020 live-action adaptation of mulan
"Mulan."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

"Mulan" is the live-action remake that was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we'll never know how it would have fared at the box office.

But we're betting it would have done well. "Mulan" is a true action movie, which fits well with the subject matter, as Mulan secretly takes her father's place in the Chinese army.

The 1998 original film has some of the best Disney songs ("Reflection," "I'll Make a Man Out of You," "Honor to Us All"), but the remake wisely removes them, as the tonal shift from hilarious songs to gritty action would be too jarring. Instead, the songs are subtly worked into the score.

We also like the addition of Xianniang, a witch who identifies with Mulan's feelings that she doesn't belong. Mulan has no female friends at all in the original, and while these two aren't friends, there's a kinship and respect between the two.

4. "Cruella" (2021)
a still from the 2021 film cruella
"Cruella."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

While a prequel establishing why Cruella de Vil hates Dalmatians so much doesn't sound fun, we'd recommend watching "Cruella," since it's bolstered by the lead performances of Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.

First of all, she actually doesn't hate Dalmatians β€” she kind of likes them. Does that make sense with the character's future? Not really, but it is fun to watch Stone commit so deeply to the 1970s English punk scene.

Her on-screen nemesis, Baroness von Hellman, as played by Emma Thompson, is a campy delight.

Stone's performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and a sequel is in the works. We're excited.

3. "The Jungle Book" (2016)
a still from the 2016 live-action adaptation of the jungle book
"The Jungle Book."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Jon Favreau directed both 2016's "The Jungle Book" and 2019's "The Lion King," but seemingly learned the wrong lessons from "The Jungle Book," which is a delight.

Mowgli, the lone human character in the film, gives viewers a face to center them as he explores a jungle filled with familiar voices, such as Bill Murray as Baloo, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, Christopher Walken as King Louie, and Idris Elba as Shere Khan.

The remake added beautiful effects and exciting action. And β€”Β spoiler alert β€”Β it also changed the ending so Mowgli could remain in the jungle with his friends.

2. "Christopher Robin" (2018)
a still from the 2018 film christopher robin
"Christopher Robin."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Maybe we're cheating a little bit since 2018's "Christopher Robin" isn't a specific remake of any "Winnie the Pooh" film but instead, a semi-sequel that brings Pooh and friends out of the Hundred Acre Wood into the real world, but this movie is too good to leave out.

In it, Ewan McGregor plays a grown-up Christopher Robin who has left his friends Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, and Owl behind. By chance, he reunites with them and is reminded of the important things in life.

It is always a joy to hang out with Winnie the Pooh, and a disillusioned adult returning to their fun-loving ways is a story Disney does so well, like in "Mary Poppins."

Additionally, the score for this movie rocks. It's so perfectly paired with the film.

1. "Cinderella" (2015)
a still from the 2015 live-action adaptation of cinderella
"Cinderella."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Maybe this is because we just don't think the original "Cinderella" from 1950 is that good. Yes, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo" is a banger, and the animation of Cinderella's dress turning from a ripped-up rag to a shimmering princess-worthy ball gown is beautiful, but that's really it.

The prince is barely a character, the other songs aren't that memorable, and Cinderella herself has little personality besides being sweet.

The 2015 "Cinderella" rectifies all that. Ella, as played by Lily James, is kind, funny, and has a very strong sense of right and wrong, while Prince Kit, played by a very blue-eyed Richard Madden, gets an arc and a loving relationship with his dad.

The famous blue ball gown is also one of the rare pieces of Disney iconography that looks just as beautiful in real life. We must also mention Cate Blanchett as a fully committed Lady Tremaine and Helena Bonham Carter as the dotty Fairy Godmother.

We'd go as far as to say that "Cinderella," at least for now, is the only true Disney remake worth your time.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Donald Trump just became a grandfather for the 11th time. Meet all his grandkids.

15 May 2025 at 19:44
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos attend the Taoray Wang front row during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery II at Spring Studios on February 9, 2019
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos just welcomed their first child together, Donald Trump's 11th grandchild.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Taoray Wang

  • President-elect Donald Trump has 11 grandchildren.
  • They range in age from a newborn to 18.
  • His second-youngest child, Tiffany Trump, just gave birth to her first baby.

A lot has changed for the Trump family since President Donald Trump first moved to the White House in 2017.

Back then, his oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was still married to his now ex-wife, Vanessa Trump, and the president had three fewer grandchildren.

His newest grandchild, Alexander, was born on May 15, 2025, to his daughter Tiffany and son-in-law Michael Boulos.

In all, Donald Trump has five children β€” Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron β€”Β and the four eldest each have children of their own. Barron, who's 19, started his freshman year of college in 2024.

Donald Trump's eldest grandchild, Kai, is already stepping into the spotlight. She spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention and frequently posts photos on Instagram with her grandfather β€” she even posted on X that Elon Musk had "uncle status."

Another of Trump's grandchildren, 9-year-old Theodore Kushner, sat center stage at Super Bowl LIX when his grandfather became the first president in history to attend the game.

It stands to reason that as the rest of the Trump grandchildren grow up, they may become more publicly outspoken and publicly known.

Here's a guide to all 11 of Donald Trump's grandchildren.

Kai Madison Trump
Kai Trump standing and smiling at a podium with a microphone.
Kai Trump spoke onstage on the third day of the Republican National Convention last year.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Kai Trump is the oldest of Donald Trump's grandchildren at 18 years old. She's also the oldest child of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump and was born in May 2007.

Her parents, who were married from 2005 to 2018, have five children together.

Kai spoke onstage at the Republican National Convention last year, making her first foray onto the political stage, and sat on the inauguration stage in January when Trump was sworn in.

She's also set to play college golf and verbally committed to playing at the University of Miami beginning in 2026, she shared on Instagram in August 2024.

She thanked Donald Trump, who owns more than a dozen golf courses, in the post, writing, "I would like to thank my Grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous support."

Donald John Trump III
Donald John Trump III, Kai Trump, and Donald Trump onstage.
Donald John Trump III, Kai Trump, and Donald Trump at the 2024 RNC.

IM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

After Kai came Donald J. Trump III, who celebrated his 16th birthday on February 18. Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo with all of his kids, including his son, on Thanksgiving.

Donald J. Trump III was also onstage at the RNC in 2024 and attended the 2025 inauguration.

Tristan Milos Trump
Vanessa Trump holding her son Tristan Trump on her hip and carrying a woven baset.
Vanessa Trump and her son Tristan in April 2017.

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump's third child, Tristan, was born in October 2011 and is now 13 years old.

Spencer Frederick Trump
Spencer Trump.
Spencer Trump in 2018.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Spencer is the fourth of Donald Trump Jr.'s five children; he was born in October 2012 and is 12 years old.

His middle name comes from his great-great-grandfather, Frederick Trump, and great-grandfather, Frederick Trump Sr.

Donald Trump also had an older brother, Frederick Trump Jr., who died in 1981.

Chloe Sophia Trump
Donald Trump Jr. with his daughter Chloe Sophia Trump, who's wearing a cap.
Donald Trump Jr. and Chloe Trump in 2018.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Chloe is the youngest child of Donald Trump's eldest child. She was born in June 2014, making her 10 years old.

Her dad posted a photo on Instagram in December of her and her older brother Spencer fishing.

Arabella Rose Kushner
Jared Kushner (L), son Joseph Kushner, daughter Arabella Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and son Theodore Kushner (R) prepare to board a U.S. Air Force aircraft bound for Washington DC on January 18, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida
Arabella Kushner and her mother, Ivanka Trump, in January.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Donald Trump's second child is Ivanka Trump, who married Jared Kushner in 2009. She gave birth to their first child, Arabella, in July 2011. Arabella is now 13 years old.

Ivanka Trump regularly shares photos of her kids on social media. In a July 2024Β InstagramΒ post about Arabella's birthday, Ivanka wrote that her daughter loved singing, playing the piano, riding horses, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Joseph Frederick Kushner
Jared Kushner is seen out for a walk with his children Arabella, Theodore and Joseph on August 23, 2023
Jared Kushner with Joseph in 2023.

MEGA/GC Images/Getty Images

Ivanka's second child, Joseph, was born in October 2013, making him 11 years old now.

Ivanka said on her Instagram that Joseph liked computers, dirt biking, and skateboarding.

Joseph and his cousin Spencer, who are 11 months apart, share the same middle name.

Theodore James Kushner
US President Donald Trump stands as US singer-songwriter Jon Baptiste performs the National Anthem ahead of Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025
President Donald Trump attended Super Bowl LIX with his daughter, Ivanka, and his grandson, Theodore.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Ivanka's youngest child, Theodore, was born in March 2016. He's 9 years old and loves football, parkour, poker, and Rubik's cubes, his mom wrote on her Instagram.

He was seen alongside his mother and grandfather in their suite at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February.

Eric Luke Trump
Donald Trump holding and kissing his grandson Luke onstage at a campaign rally.
Luke came onstage to support his grandfather at a rally in September.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Donald Trump's third child, Eric, has been married to Lara Trump since 2014.

Their first child, Eric Luke (who goes by his middle name), was born in September 2017, making him 7 years old.

Luke has appeared at Trump rallies, such as the September 2024 North Carolina rally pictured above, and appeared at the 2024 RNC with his sister.

Carolina Dorothy Trump
Donald Trump holding his granddaughter Carolina on stage at a campaign rally.
Donald Trump held his granddaughter, Carolina, onstage at a campaign rally in September.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Until recently, 5-year-old Carolina was Donald Trump's youngest grandchild. She was born to Eric and Lara Trump in August 2019.

Alexander Trump Boulos
President Donald Trump and Tiffany Trump
President Donald Trump and Tiffany Trump in January 2025.

Pool/Getty Images

Tiffany Trump announced the birth of her first child, Alexander, on May 15, 2025, with her husband, Michael Boulos, via Instagram. He's now the president's youngest grandchild and his seventh grandson.

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