After witnessing the live-action remake of Snow White succeed in the box office, lead actress Rachel Zegler is on top of the world. On March 24, 2025, she took to Instagram to celebrate the film’s success, posting a photo of herself in the titular princess costume while waving from her trailer on set. "#1 Movie In The World!" she captioned the image, accompanied by a red apple and snowflake emoji. The film, co-starring Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, earned $43 million domestically and $44.3 million internationally as of Sunday, March 23, 2025, according to Variety.
Despite its impressive ranking as the weekend’s top earner, the box office performance was somewhat underwhelming given its hefty budget of over $240 million. The Marc Webb-directed fairytale outperformed competitors such as Black Bag, Captain America: Brave New World, and Mickey 17. However, it faced stiff competition during its opening weekend from Alto Knights, starring Robert De Niro, which earned only $3.2 million domestically and $1.8 million abroad, while Magazine Dreams, featuring Jonathan Majors, totaled just $700,000.
Zegler has been sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of Snow White through her social media accounts. In a March 20 post, she reflected on the film's significance, stating, "The movie was a life-changing experience that has held about four years of my career." She noted that the personal growth she experienced from age twenty to twenty-three cannot be accurately described, yet it is captured on film forever.
However, the release of Snow White has not been without controversy. Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, faced racial backlash from some social media users regarding her casting as the Disney character. Additionally, she stirred up further discussion when she referred to the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as "dated." The live-action adaptation features original tracks from composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and introduces a new character named Jonathan, alongside the traditional roles of the seven dwarfs.
The seven dwarfs in the film are played by Jeremy Swift (Doc), Martin Klebba (Grumpy), George Salazar (Happy), Andy Grotelueschen (Sleepy), Tituss Burgess (Bashful), Jason Kravits (Sneezy), and Andrew Barth Feldman (Dopey). As the film continues to attract audiences, many are eager to see how it fares in the coming weeks.
However, not everyone is celebrating the film's release. Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, has publicly criticized Zegler, attributing the film's underwhelming box office performance to her controversial social media activity. In a now-deleted Instagram comment, Jonah defended his father after a Variety report revealed that Marc had flown to New York City at Disney's request to ask Zegler to remove a tweet expressing support for Palestine.
In his comments, Jonah stated, "Yeah, my dad, the producer of an enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family 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." He further emphasized the importance of accountability, arguing that Zegler's actions negatively affected the film's box office.
Despite the criticism, Zegler has remained steadfast in her views, continuing to express her support for Palestine and other political causes. This has led to a significant backlash, with some sources reporting that her comments have resulted in death threats against her co-star, Gal Gadot, prompting Disney to hire security for her protection.
In the midst of the controversy, industry insiders have speculated about the film's financial prospects. While the $270 million live-action remake was initially projected to earn around $100 million globally, it fell short, grossing only $87.3 million. Some industry observers have pointed to Zegler's political activism as a factor in the film's performance, with one insider stating, "That movie should be a billion-dollar movie.”
As discussions surrounding the film continue, reactions to Zegler's actions have been mixed. Some defend her right to express her views, arguing that blaming her political stance for the film's failure is unjust. Critics have pointed out that other factors, such as the general decline in box office revenues and the film's appeal, should also be considered.
Social media users have weighed in on the debate, with some calling Jonah's comments "incredibly valid" while others label the backlash against Zegler as unwarranted. One commenter noted, "Blaming her political views on the movie's failure is nasty work, man," while another remarked, "Absolutely delusional to believe Zegler’s mild support of a very popular cause had anything to do with this film flopping.”
As the film industry grapples with the intersection of politics and entertainment, Snow White serves as a case study in how personal beliefs can impact public perception and box office performance. With Zegler's outspoken nature and the film's mixed reception, it remains to be seen how the narrative will evolve in the coming weeks.
For now, audiences can still catch Snow White in theaters, and despite the controversies, its release marks a significant moment in Zegler's career. As she continues to navigate the challenges of fame and activism, her journey is one that many will be watching closely.
