Snow White’s Box Office Falls Flat Despite High Hopes

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Disney’s recent live-action adaptation of ‘Snow White’, titled ‘Snow White’, has underperformed at both domestic and international box offices with earnings of $43 million domestically and $87.3 million globally. Given its production budget exceeding $240 million, these figures have caused quite a disappointment. The studio had envisioned a more enchanting outcome, leaving many puzzled about the factors leading to this less-than-ideal scenario.

On paper, the movie seemed like a surefire hit, boasting a substantial budget that promised grandiose sets, dazzling special effects, and a star-studded cast featuring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Wicked Queen. With Marc Webb, renowned for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, at the helm, expectations ran high that this adaptation would reinvigorate the 1937 original. However, despite its financial backing, it failed to draw in large audiences.

Snow White grossed approximately $43 million domestically and $87.3 million internationally, with its production budget exceeding $240 million.

— Geek Vibes Nation (@GeekVibesNation) March 23, 2025

The recent $43 million opening in the U.S. for Disney’s latest live-action remake is significantly less than what they were accustomed to with their past live-action adaptations. For instance, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, released in 2017, earned an impressive $174 million on its opening weekend, while ‘The Little Mermaid’ from 2023 started off with a strong $95 million. Even ‘Snow White’ fails to outshine ‘Dumbo’ from 2019, which opened at $45 million and was still considered underwhelming in comparison.

It seems the controversy arose well before the curtains fell in theaters. The movie was already facing a tempest of criticism from the time when Zegler was announced as the lead actress. Some felt uneasy about her, with her Colombian-Polish heritage, portraying the traditionally fair-skinned princess. Additionally, there were discussions surrounding the dwarves, or rather, the ‘magical creatures’ as they are now referred to. Instead of hiring actors with dwarfism, Disney opted for CGI characters, which led to debate after Peter Dinklage criticized the original tale’s portrayal. To top it off, Zegler made comments about the 1937 film being outdated, particularly referring to the prince as a stalker, which didn’t sit well with those longing for nostalgia.

It’s worth noting that the budget for this remake was substantial, totaling approximately $240 million, placing it among Disney’s costliest adaptations alongside ‘The Lion King’ ($260 million) and ‘The Little Mermaid’ ($250 million). However, unlike those films which generated immense profits with ‘The Lion King’ earning over $1.6 billion worldwide, this remake of ‘Snow White’ faces a challenging hurdle. To break even, it would need to gross around $600 million globally, an ambitious goal given its current earnings of $87.3 million. Additionally, reshoots and production delays have contributed to the escalating costs, increasing the pressure on its success.

It’s hard not to ponder if the uproar overshadowed the enchantment. Zegler’s vocal instances, such as her critical comments about Donald Trump following the 2024 election, didn’t please everyone. On the other hand, Gadot faced criticism for her viewpoint on the Israel-Gaza conflict, further stoking the flames. Disney, in response, decided to tone down the premiere, foregoing the traditional red-carpet glamour, which could suggest they sensed a shift in public sentiment.

Rachel Zegler expresses her sentiment that Trump supporters may never experience tranquility, encourages her followers to disengage from platform X as Elon Musk endorsed Trump, and concludes with “I disapprove of Donald Trump.”

By the way, it’s important to note that Disney likely won’t impose any penalties on Zegler for sharing this viewpoint.

— Steph Anie (@mynerdyhome) November 13, 2024

The initial feedback from viewers hasn’t been particularly favorable. The movie received a B+ rating from CinemaScore, which seems acceptable until you consider that Dumbo earned an A-, a significantly higher grade. Critics gave it a mediocre 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience was more lenient with a score of 74%. Despite this, the film hasn’t generated the buzz required by a production of such high cost. It appears that families, traditionally Disney’s main source of support, have not flocked to the theater in large numbers – perhaps because Snow White, being almost 90 years old, does not hold the same appeal for modern children as characters like Simba or Ariel do.

This debut is proving to be a hard reality for Disney – much like a difficult-to-accept truth. They’ve enjoyed successes such as ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’, which started modestly at $35 million but eventually surpassed $700 million worldwide. As for ‘Snow White’, it might yet find its footing, but at present, it’s a somber story of grand ambitions and minimal returns. Time will tell if it can escape the predicament, but the clock is ticking on this one.

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2025-03-23 18:44