Disney's much-anticipated live-action remake of "Snow White" debuted in theaters over the weekend of March 20-23, 2025, but the reality of its box office performance was far from the expectations set by the studio. Despite a star-studded cast featuring newcomer Rachel Zegler in the titular role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film struggled to resonate with audiences.
Opening weekend estimates revealed that the film grossed a mere $44 million in the U.S., with global earnings reaching only $87 million—a stark contrast to its production budget of $270 million, plus an additional $100 million for marketing. This puts the film in a precarious position, as it must collect over $525 million to break even. Given its lackluster start, those projections appear almost impossible.
Critics and audiences alike were quick to share their opinions, causing a notable stir on social media and movie review platforms. The film's departure from the classical tale, particularly its casting decisions and storyline modifications, sparked considerable discussion even before its release. The new Snow White is presented not as a passive princess but as a strong, ambitious woman, a change from traditional narratives, which has drawn both praise and criticism. Alexander Golubchikov, editor-in-chief of the film portal Zoomfilm, expressed that "the casting of Zegler for the role of Snow White is considered unsuccessful and imposed by many commentators." Here, Zegler's portrayal has been controversial; many feel it diverges significantly from the character's traditional depiction as having "skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony."
The film's visual execution has also come under fire. Critics highlighted the artificiality of the sets as reminiscent of "cheap attractions in Disneyland" and likened the costumes to nothing more than products from souvenir shops. One of the most jarring visuals was the computer-generated imagery used to represent the dwarfs, which disappointed many audience members who had hoped for a return to live-action performances.
Furthermore, the romantic subplot, traditionally a cornerstone of the fairy tale, has been significantly downplayed, with the character of the prince reduced to a mere footnote in the new storyline. This approach was likely intended to modernize the narrative but has met with a mixed reception. Many viewers were left questioning whether these changes ultimately did justice to the beloved classic tale.
Despite the weak start, there was some silver lining as Zegler's performance as Snow White received positive nods; her vocal talents displayed throughout the film resonated well with some fans. Yet, with such a poor reception, it seems unlikely that this will be enough to save the film from substantial financial losses. The poor initial reception has raised questions about the future of Disney's remakes, which have become a staple of their cinematic output over the past years.
Critics remarked on how this film might indicate a change in audience expectations. Evgeny Ukhov of Film.ru commented, "The ratings of 'Snow White' among aggregators today are contradictory. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film was supported by 44% of authorized critics, conditionally, half liked it, half didn't." The audience response has also been equally complex; while critics may remain divided, ticket buyers who confirmed seeing the film shared a much more favorable view with a striking 73% approval rating. This raises the possibility of a threadbare campaign against the film from those responding to pre-release controversies.
The film's challenges were not limited to its reception. The very controversy it faced—stemming from casting decisions and discussions on representation—featured prominently in discussions surrounding it and only seemed to intensify after Zegler's earlier comments branding the original animated classic dated. Such remarks appear to have been a double-edged sword, with some audiences boycotting the film based on Zegler's comments regarding ethnicity and authenticity of the character.
As Disney navigates these challenges, the fate of "Snow White" may serve as a wake-up call regarding the storytelling approaches and representation they adopt in their narratives. With mounting calls for more original content and genuine representation as opposed to rote rehashes of past hits, the studio finds itself at a crossroads.
In conclusion, as Disney grapples with the aftermath of this financial and critical disappointment, it raises pressing questions about their future projects. Will they remain reliant on nostalgic remakes, or will they shift towards more innovative and diverse storytelling? With "Snow White" proving to be a colossal miss, many are keenly awaiting Disney's next move as the future of their cinematic legacy hangs in the balance.
