Disney's latest live-action adaptation, Snow White, has faced a tumultuous reception since its premiere on March 21, 2025. The film, which reportedly cost close to $400 million to produce, has struggled at the box office, earning just $88.6 million worldwide during its opening weekend, with a mere $44.7 million coming from the U.S. alone. As the dust settles from its debut, the blame game has begun, with internal conflicts and public controversies surrounding the film's star, Rachel Zegler, taking center stage.
In the lead-up to the film's release, Zegler found herself at the center of a social media firestorm. In August 2024, Disney producer Marc Platt flew to New York City to meet with Zegler, urging her to retract a "Free Palestine" comment she had made on social media while promoting the film's teaser trailer. This request was part of a broader concern that Zegler's political statements could alienate a significant portion of the audience, particularly after she posted inflammatory comments about former President Donald Trump and his supporters, stating, "F–k Donald Trump" and "May Trump supporters... never know peace."
Following these comments, Disney executives became increasingly worried about the potential backlash. They hired a social media guru to assist Zegler in navigating her online presence, leading to an agreement that she would vet her social media posts prior to the film's release. Despite these efforts, the damage seemed to have been done, with many attributing the film's lackluster performance to the negative publicity surrounding Zegler.
Jonah Platt, Marc Platt's son, publicly defended his father's actions in a now-deleted Instagram post. He expressed frustration over the backlash directed at his father, who he said had to leave his family to address Zegler's behavior. "You really want to do this? Yeah, my dad, the producer of an enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for," Jonah stated.
He continued to criticize Zegler, arguing that her actions were irresponsible and detrimental to the film's success. "This is called adult responsibility and accountability. And her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office. Free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions. Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue-collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged," he added.
Despite the controversy, Snow White has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film currently holds a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, while fan reviews are more favorable, sitting at 74%. The CinemaScore is a B+, but the film's IMDb rating has plummeted to 1.7, indicating a stark division between critical and audience reception.
Disney's financial analysts are now bracing for the fallout, as reports suggest that Snow White could potentially lose the company upwards of $200 million. The film's staggering budget, which ballooned due to multiple rewrites and reshoots, has left many questioning the studio's decision-making process and the impact of Zegler's social media presence on the film's marketing strategy.
In light of the controversy, Zegler has since apologized for her remarks and expressed a willingness to comply with the studio's requests regarding her online behavior. However, the question remains: can a film so deeply affected by its star's public persona recover from such a rocky start?
As Snow White continues to screen in theaters, the industry watches closely to see how the film will perform in the coming weeks. With the stakes so high and the repercussions of social media behavior so evident, it serves as a cautionary tale for future productions. Can studios maintain a balance between artistic expression and commercial viability in an era where every tweet and post can have significant implications?
Ultimately, Snow White's journey at the box office may not only reflect the quality of the film itself but also the complexities of navigating celebrity culture in today's digital landscape. As audiences weigh in, it remains to be seen whether the film can turn things around or if it will be remembered as a cautionary tale in the annals of Hollywood history.
