Aladdin Star Mena Massoud Has A Disappointing Update On The Sequel (And It's Probably For The Best)

The “Aladdin” remake may have gotten plenty of butts in seats to relive their childhood memories, but it’s safe to say that the film’s legacy is far flimsier than that of the original animated classic. Critics weren’t especially loving of the film, giving it a 57% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and saying that the remake, “never approaches the dazzling splendor of the animated original.” It was certainly a tough act to follow, as the original film’s lively animation, collection of catchy songs, and standout voice performance of Robin Williams as the Genie have kept “Aladdin” a beloved gem. Yet the remake — with its padded runtime, inconsistent acting, and questionable visuals — largely pales in comparison. 

And let’s be real here: we know the real reason why Disney wants to make a sequel to 2019’s ninth-highest grosser. But even that may blow up in their faces. Amongst Disney’s line of live-action remakes, the few sequels they’ve produced have not paid off. Both 2016’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” and 2019’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” bombed at the box office, despite their predecessors being mega money-makers — with 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” even crossing the $1 billion mark.

We may never know if the sequelitis virus will attack the “Aladdin” follow-up, but as a Disney live-action remake, there’s already a bevy of burdens it brings along that probably wouldn’t do it any favors.