Disney's live-action adaptation of Snow White, featuring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, hit theaters on March 21, 2025, and immediately made waves at the box office, albeit not quite as expected.
Following a highly publicized release and amidst a turbulent social context, the film launched with mixed reviews and an underwhelming performance at the Indian box office. It earned merely Rs 0.65 crore on its opening day, making it one of the lower openings for Hollywood films in the country. This performance put it behind Bollywood films such as 'Chhaava' and 'The Diplomat', both of which grossed over Rs 1.5 crore on the same day, as reported by Sacnilk.com.
On the North American front, Snow White's opening was significantly stronger, grossing USD 15.5 million on its first day. This total includes an impressive USD 3.5 million from Thursday night previews. Projections for the opening weekend estimate the film could earn between $45 million and $55 million across 4,200 theaters. Despite its promising numbers, the film's opening trajectory seems more aligned with Disney's 2019 release, Dumbo, which also had a modest start.
The film's production budget has raised eyebrows, with estimates ranging from USD 250 million to USD 270 million, leading many to wonder how it will perform financially if it doesn't capture a larger audience. Internationally, Snow White is expected to pull in an additional $50 million, which would push its total debut figure above $100 million, yet this still falls below earlier expectations that predicted a more jubilant opening of over $60 million.
The atmosphere surrounding the film has been tainted by various controversies, which likely impacted its reception. Significant changes from the original story have sparked backlash from audiences, while social media has erupted over comments made by lead actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot concerning their respective stances on the Israel-Hamas war. Zegler has expressed her pro-Palestinian views online, condemning Trump supporters and, according to critics, creating divisions. On the other hand, Gadot has faced boycotts and backlash for her support of Israel, notably around the release coinciding with increased tensions in the region.
Disney has taken precautionary measures amidst these controversies, opting to scale back their premiere events. The planned red carpet occasion was downgraded, and access to media was limited, which reflects the studio's struggle to mitigate negative attention surrounding their film.
Despite the setbacks, audience reactions at the film's premiere were largely positive, signifying a glimmer of hope for its overall performance. Critics have noted that Snow White may be one of Disney's strongest live-action remakes, with many praising Rachel Zegler's performance as captivating and a true rendition of Snow White.
As audiences look ahead, the film is part of a broader trend of Disney’s live-action adaptations, many of which have seen varying success. Previous films like The Lion King and Aladdin were massive hits, but others such as Dumbo and The Little Mermaid struggled to achieve box office metrics that justified their costly productions.
It’s clear that Snow White is vying for attention amid a cluttered landscape of cinematic releases. The movie originally began development in 2016 with a vision to modernize Walt Disney's classic tale, attempting to bridge tradition with contemporary issues.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen if Snow White can break through the noise of its controversies and live up to audience expectations. Director Marc Webb, known for his work on The Amazing Spider-Man, aims to recapture the magic of the original animated version while offering something fresh for today’s viewers.
As the weekend progresses, box office analysts will scrutinize the trends of Snow White's earnings closely, balancing its initial results against the backdrop of significant industry expectations. The stakes are high for this project, which stands as a case study of how cultural narratives shape film releases in today's divided society.
