All of the Peter Pan Movies, From "Hook" to "Peter Pan & Wendy"

Disney’s latest live-action riff on a classic is “Peter Pan & Wendy,” a new adaptation of the classic “Peter Pan” story. Ever since first taking center stage in J.M. Barrie’s 1904 stage play, Peter Pan and the magical land of Neverland have captured imaginations all over the world. The whimsical story with a hint of darkness has inspired plenty of movies, plays, and books over the years, each with a slightly different take on the Boy Who Never Grew Up. Here’s a brief look back at all of the notable movie adaptations and how they each made the Neverland mythos their own.

“Peter Pan” (1924)

The first authorized movie adaptation of “Peter Pan” was this silent film version, starring Betty Bronson as Peter Pan, Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook, Mary Brian as Wendy Darling, and Virginia Brown Faire as Tinker Bell. J.M. Barrie personally worked on a screenplay for this one, but the dialogue displayed on screen actually came from Barrie’s existing stage play instead.

“Peter Pan” (1953)

For many of us, Disney’s animated adaptation was our first introduction to the world of Neverland. Bobby Driscoll voiced Peter Pan, while Wendy was voiced by Kathryn Beaumont and Captain Hook by Hans Conried. With very little of the original play’s dialogue, the animated feature is probably best known for its music, with songs like “You Can Fly” and “The Second Star to the Right.” In 2002, Disney produced a sequel, “Return to Never Land,” which brings a new generation of children into the magic of Neverland.

“Hook” (1991)

The beloved live-action movie puts a different spin on the Peter Pan mythos. Peter Pan is now “Peter Banning,” and he’s all grown up (and played by Robin Williams), having forgotten all about Neverland. Now a father himself, Peter is pulled back into the magical world when a vengeful Captain Hook (played by Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps Peter’s children and takes them to Neverland.

“Peter Pan” (2003)

Most versions of the Peter Pan story just barely touch on the adolescent crushes happening between Peter and Wendy, but this family-adventure film takes a more direct approach. The main beats of the story remain the same, just with the romantic feelings between the two a little more clearly spelled out. Jeremy Sumpter played Peter, with Rachel Hurd-Wood as Wendy and Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook.

“Pan” (2015)

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Hollywood saw something of an “origin stories” trend, and “Pan” jumped right into the fray with disappointing results. The live-action prequel starred Levi Miller as Peter Pan, Garrett Hedlund as a young Captain Hook, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily, and Hugh Jackman as the pirate Blackbeard, tracing the story of how a young orphan came to Neverland, fought against a wicked pirate, and became the “boy who never grew up.”

“Wendy” (2020)

The 2020 live-action reimagining shifts perspective to a more contemporary setting and, framing Wendy Darling (played by Devin France) as the protagonist. Wendy lives in the rural South with her mother and two brothers, dreaming of a different life. When they see a boy riding atop a train one night, they join him and are whisked away to a dangerous and magical island where a mysterious spirit supposedly watches over the group of lost children.

“Come Away” (2020)

Instead of just focusing on “Peter Pan,” this live-action fantasy adventure combines the stories of Neverland with another classic children’s fantasy: “Alice in Wonderland.” In this version, Peter is the younger brother of Alice, and the pair find themselves caught up not in a tale of pirates and mermaids, but in the world of criminal organizations in London’s seedy underworld.

“Peter Pan & Wendy” (2023)

Disney continues its trend of live-action adaptations of animated classics with this new movie. It’s inspired by the 1953 animated version, though with a few tweaks to the story along the way. Ever Anderson plays Wendy, Alexander Moloney plays Peter, Jude Law plays Captain Hook, and Yara Shahidi plays Tinker Bell.

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All of the Peter Pan Movies, From “Hook” to “Peter Pan & Wendy”