The reviews are in, and while Disney's live-action remake of Mulan was met with positive reviews from critics, it left a lackluster impression on general audiences.
Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan began streaming Sept. 4 through Premiere Access on Disney+. Following its release, Mulan is considered Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a professional critic score of 79%. However, the film currently has a verified audience score of 57% at the time of writing.
According to the critics’ consensus, while Mulan is without a doubt a “visual marvel,” the film could have told the classic story with “more depth.” CBR’s own review of the film called it an “exciting, well-crafted action movie.”
Overall, critics consider Mulan to be a “stirring update to its animated predecessor,” but it is just that -- an update. Fans should not expect a direct mirror of the original 1998 animated classic. While Mulan does not have the music or Mushu, it does appear to deliver on a visual level and introduces exciting new villains, such as the shapeshifting witch, Xianniang (played by Gong Li).
Mulan is now available exclusively through Premiere Access on Disney+ for fans willing to pay $29.99. However, it will begin streaming for free in December, making the movie’s current critic score subject to change depending on its reception from a wider audience. The film was originally intended for a wide theatrical release in March but was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Directed by Niki Caro, Disney's live-action Mulan stars Yifei Liu as Mulan, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan and Yoson An as Chen Honghui, with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor.