All 101 Dalmatian & Cruella Movies Ranked, Worst To Best

Cruella is the latest 101 Dalmatians movie to release, but is it the best? Released in 1961, 101 Dalmatians is an animated adaptation of Dodie Smith’s novel of the same name. The movie faithfully follows the story of Smith’s book, which centers on the titular massive litter of Dalmatians and their daring escape from a deranged fashionista.

101 Dalmatians was a huge success upon release, saving Disney from financial woes brought on by the ambitious production of Sleeping Beauty. The movie spawned a belated straight-to-DVD sequel in 2003 as well as a live-action remake in 1996 (which itself received a sequel in 2000). Now, I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie’s new release Cruella endeavors to retell the tale from the perspective of its villainess, a fresh spin that Disney hopes will bring audiences back to the franchise.

The evolution of the 101 Dalmatians franchise has been an odd one, with the first film making a huge splash at the box office only for decades to elapse before a sequel arrived. Said sequel, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure, not only went straight-to-DVD upon release in 2003 but was also preceded by a live-action remake four years earlier. While the animated movies focused mostly on the eponymous dogs, the live-action remakes centered on Glenn Close, whose spirited performance brought Cruella de Vil to unforgettable life and earned the movies solid reviews despite their humdrum stories. Then years later, another version of the villain arrived on-screen in the form of Emma Stone’s Cruella.

5. 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Despite boasting underrated leading man extraordinaire Jeff Daniels, 1996’s live-action remake of the original 1961 101 Dalmatians is actually the weakest outing in the franchise. Directed by Stephen Herek of The Mighty Ducks fame, the remake is a perfectly serviceable family film, and Glenn Close truly shines as the demented Cruella de Vil. However, she is trapped in a bland and otherwise forgettable outing that, while inoffensive, doesn’t have any of the original animated movie’s charming wit and visual panache. Close’s performance ensures that this isn’t a waste of time and Herek mounts some fun chases and silly set-pieces with the titular mutts, but a familiar plot and uninspired visuals ensure that this will be no one’s favorite iteration of Dodie Smith’s classic.

4. 102 Dalmatians

It is rare for the second film in a franchise to outdo its predecessor in terms of critical appraisal, although this phenomenon is a little more common in family films (for whatever reason). Released in 2000, 102 Dalmatians joined the ranks of Shrek 2 and the Madagascar movies as a kids sequel that managed to one-up its original. More cluttered and chaotic than the anodyne first film in the franchise, this mile-a-minute adventure largely dispenses with focusing on the human characters save for Close’s unhinged Cruella. It’s a canny decision, as Close’s villain is the strongest character in the live-action franchise and the only actor whose performance is as fittingly over-the-top and zany as the material demands. This outing still has a predictable plot and some cloyingly sentimental moments but, despite the claims of critical consensus upon its release, 102 Dalmatians represents a big step up in terms of quality for the franchise.

3. 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure

Certainly the most frustratingly titled of the series, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure is a surprisingly strong straight-to-DVD release. Despite not appearing in cinemas, this Disney spinoff is a solid 101 Dalmatians follow-up whose story stays true to the simple charms of Smith’s original novel. There may be more chases and madcap characters than in Smith’s own successor story The Starlight Barking, but 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure shares Smith’s love for the title city and features some striking animation despite its budgetary limitations.

A fun adventure centered on the exploits of the titular loan pup when he is let loose in London, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure is the sort of unexpectedly solid, funny sequel that many kids will remember as fondly as the original ‘60s classic. With supporting turns from the always-underrated Martin Short and Jason Alexander, this charming sequel is well worth a watch and one of the franchise’s stronger outings.

2. Cruella

Released to mixed reviews, Cruella isCraig Gillespie’s attempt to provide the infamous titular dog-skinner with a sympathetic backstory. Emma Stone shines in the title role, doing justice to both her animated predecessor and Glenn Close’s superb pantomime villain turn in the earlier live-action additions to the series. The story may be thin and a touch predictable, but costumes are truly stunning and, along with its lavish production design, act as the main draw of the movie. Meanwhile, the supporting cast, including Emma Thompson, is agreeably campy and acquits themselves to the world of live-action cartooning with suitable aplomb. Ultimately, Cruella may be a movie that doesn’t necessarily need to exist, but it’s a fun, fast-paced, and visually striking one at that.

1. 101 Dalmatians

The original and still the best, 1961’s 101 Dalmatians remains the high point of the franchise to date. Filled with subtle, knowing wit (a lot of it lifted directly from the source novel), before the dognapping subplot even starts the original animated movie is first and foremost a charming rom-com whose leads happen to be dogs. Rod Taylor’s Pongo is a charming cad and his nebbish owner Roger is a lovable nerd, and the stunning animation makes the pair’s courtship of Perdita and Anita a joy to watch. Visually, 101 Dalmatians has the sumptuous hand-drawn charms of early Disney and a more playful, scribbly style than the likes of Pinocchio, befitting its swinging sixties setting. Cruella may have reminded the world how much they love the franchise as a whole, but it is the original 101 Dalmatians that viewers will return to for years to come.

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Cathal Gunning
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Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies and TV online since 2020. His obsessions include The Simpsons, Stephen King, the Scream series, and the horror genre in general. He has spent more time thinking about Stranger Things than the writers of Stranger Things, and he has never seen a Star War.

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