With Disney releasing the first poster and new updates of its release sometime in 2023, Peter Pan & Wendy is a timely reminder of the ongoing relevance of one of the most beloved characters to have emerged from children’s fiction. Peter Pan, the boy who couldn’t (or wouldn’t, depending on the telling) grow up, is a powerful expression of a collective desire to resist the process of reaching maturity and becoming part of the adult world.
Like many other classic stories, Peter Pan has been adapted a number of times for the screen, and the best of these manage to capture the original story while also putting their own stamp on the character.
Pan (2015) - 5.7
Stream On Netflix
Even though Peter Pan has been adapted many times, each new iteration finds some new element to explore. In Pan, for example, the emphasis is on the adventure component of the story, and the movie appeals precisely because it has many action sequences which sweep the viewer up in the adrenaline and excitement of the moment.
Levi Miller is definitely the standout from the movie, and he manages to capture Peter's essential adventuresome, as well as making him into someone that the audience can genuinely like and cheer for.
Peter And Wendy (2015) - 5.8
Stream On The Roku Channel
Every version of Peter Pan has to have that certain something that helps it to hook viewers who are already familiar with the story. Peter and Wendy manages to be very effective in this regard, as Wendy is a young girl suffering from a heart condition who seems to wish Peter into being.
Zak Sutcliffe gives a very strong performance as Pan. In his capable hands, the boy who wouldn’t grow up is someone who is both very full of bravado and yet, deep down, still frightened and uncertain about the future. This allows him to establish a strong bond with Wendy, which provides the movie's emotional heart.
Neverland (2011) - 6.3
Stream On Prime Video
Though many of the most notable portrayals of Peter Pan have been on the big screen, he has also made various forays on the small screen. Neverland offers a fresh spin on his story, with an Oliver Twist-like beginning and a story that is a fascinating look at Peter’s life before the events of the classic play.
Charlie Rowe brings a dynamic energy to his portrayal of Peter, making him a character is very likeable, yet also full of the liveliness that has always been so key to the character.
Peter Pan (2003) - 6.8
Stream On YouTube
There were many great 2000s fantasy movies, and, despite its box office failure (via Box Office Mojo), Peter Pan still should be seen as one of these. It is notable for a number of reasons, not least the fact that it features a truly extraordinary performance from Jeremy Sumpter. Given the extent to which he prepared for the role, it’s unsurprising to see the extent to which he truly inhabits the character's body, soul, and emotions.
Sumpter ably captures the angst and the joy of an adolescent, who doesn’t want to enter the terrifying world of adulthood. The movie is also notable for having Peter’s emotions have a tie to the weather.
Hook (1991) - 6.8
Stream On Starz
During his lifetime, Robin Williams established himself as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. This was evidenced in the movie Hook, in which he plays a Peter Pan who has, contrary to the usual story, actually grown up and largely forgotten who he was before.
In Williams’ capable hands, the viewer sees both the free-spirited and the man at the same time. And because of Williams, the movie never loses sight of the essential magic that has always existed at the heart of the Peter Pan story.
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) - 7.0
Stream On Disney+
In some ways, Chip ‘n Dale, Rescue Rangers is one of the best movies of 2022. Though it obviously focuses on the title characters, it also features a notable appearance of Peter Pan who, like other iterations, has grown up. And to further change things up, he has now become a villain.
Though he is brutal and bitter, there is something more than a little tragic about this character's iteration, in that he has been left behind by the very studio that helped him to become famous. His character is, in some important ways, an implicit critique of Disney’s tendency to endlessly remake its properties.
Peter Pan (1924) - 7.1
Stream On YouTube
The 1924 movie adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic story is fascinating for a number of reasons, one of which being that it is the first of many works. In this version, Peter is actually portrayed by Betty Bronson, one of the few actresses to play him.
She brings a sprightly energy to the role, and the movie is notably faithful to its source material. What’s more, it brings out some of the fascinating romantic dynamics, in that Wendy clearly has feelings for Peter, even though he only looks at her as a mother figure.
Peter Pan (1953) - 7.3
Stream On Disney+
In some ways, the 1953 Peter Pan is one of Disney’s underrated movies. This is a shame, as it not only features some strong animation–typical of this period–but also has a very fun and dynamic portrayal of Peter Pan. This particular iteration has Peter appear as an adolescent, as well as someone with more than a bit of an edge to him.
Though he is very likable, he’s not afraid to give into violence at times, particularly in his encounters with Captain Hook. Hook himself is very nearly eaten by a crocodile thanks to Peter’s actions.
Peter Pan (1960) - 7.4
Stream On Pluto TV
The 1960 filmed play has become one of the most beloved iterations of the Peter Pan story. In large part, this is because Mary Martin, who plays Peter, is just so adept in the role. She has a faintly elfin sort of appearance that lends her credibility as Peter, and her singing cannot be beat.
Most importantly, she brings out the whimsy and the joy that were so much a part of the character in the original play, and so it makes sense that, for many, this would be one of the best portrayals of Peter Pan.
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018) - 7.7
Stream On Disney+
Though it took some twists and turns during the course of its several seasons, Once Upon a Time for a while was an ingenious bit of fantasy television. Its portrayal of Peter Pan was particularly intriguing, as it depicts him as someone who is, to put it mildly, one of the series’ most notable villains.
Though he retains some of his charm from his earlier iterations, Once Upon a Time leans quite heavily into the idea that there is something more than a little sinister about him and, as he proves time and time again, there is nothing he won’t do to see his own desires fulfilled.
