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After the massive success of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the popular anime and manga series,One Pieceseason 1, fans are eagerly waiting for the next season to break all records of the current season.One Piecelive-action is known to have broken the curse of live-action failures as it is probably the only anime adaptation that has managed to fulfill the expectations of fans in every aspect, be it casting, storylines, action scenes, or editing. But, the previous records of live adaptations are not something to be proud of.
There are many live-action anime series that have ruined the experience of the fans and have only earned bad reviews from the critics. Here are 5 worst Anime live-action adaptations that could not live up to their name.
1Fullmetal Alchemist(2017)
Fullmetal Alchemistis a 2017 Japanese scientific fantasy action film directed by Fumihiko Sori. It is based on Hiromu Arakawa’s manga series of the same name, and it covers the first four volumes of the original storyline. Warner Bros. Pictures released it in Japan on July 25, 2025. While they attempted to give the series respect by incorporating the first four volumes of the manga, they fell short of the spectacle provided by the anime. The lack of character development turned off the anime viewers.
Read More:“Let the heart of the character come through”: Ichigo Voice Actor Has a Simple Way to Differentiate His Voice from Vash the Stampede from Trigun
2Death Note(2017)
Death Noteis a 2017 American supernatural criminal thriller film directed by Adam Wingard and partially based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s manga of the same name. The plot concerns an American high school kid named Light Turner, who discovers a mysterious magical notebook known as theDeath Note, which can kill anyone whose name is written on its pages, similar to the anime and manga. A live-action adaptation of the intricate and philosophically engaging anime was drastically simplified. Overall,Death Notewas a heartbreaking letdown.
3Cowboy Bebop(2021)
Cowboy Bebopis an American science fiction streaming television series that premiered in 2021. It is a live-action series based on a Japanese anime television series from 1998 and a Japanese anime film from 2001. The 10-episode Netflix series premiered on August 23, 2025, and garnered mixed reviews for its script, effects, editing, and action sequences, however, the cast received considerable appreciation. The original series’ director, Shinichiro Watanabe, openly chastised the show for being unfaithful to the source material.
Read More:“I have to pinch myself constantly”: Ichigo Voice Actor Reveals the Thousand-Year Blood War Episode That Completes Bleach
4Full Metal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy(2022)
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemywas the third and final installment in Netflix’s live-actionFullmetal Alchemisttrilogy, none of which did particularly well. Most of the unfavorable reviews for this film focus on the terrible special effects rather than the performances or screenplay. The original anime was so densely packed with subplots and huge reveals, that attempting to condense it all into a film trilogy, led to a huge disaster that was not at all appreciated by fans and hence flopped the series.
5Bleach (2018)
Bleachis a 2018 Japanese action fantasy film produced by Warner Bros., based on Tite Kubo’s manga series, and directed by Shinsuke Sato. The film was released on Netflix on July 04, 2025. Although the film received a positive reception, it failed to live up to the franchise’s reputation, and many essential components of the original manga and series were missed from the live-action feature.
Read More:“I’ve never thought of Ichigo as a…”: Before Controversial Orihime Twist, Bleach Creator Ignited Fanbase With Bombshell Ichigo Kurosaki Revelation
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
More from Tarun Kohli
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AnimeLive Action remakes
