Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ falters at box office amid controversies and lukewarm reception

Walt Disney Studios‘ highly anticipated live-action remake of Snow White debuted to an underwhelming $43 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates. With a production budget exceeding $250 million, the film’s performance has raised concerns over Disney’s reliance on live-action adaptations of its animated classics. Despite its historical significance—serving as a modernized retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the company’s first-ever animated feature—the film failed to translate nostalgia into box office success.

The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs holds an iconic place in cinema history, not only as Disney’s first animated feature but also as the world’s first full-length cel-animated film. Released at a time when animated movies were considered financially risky, the 1937 film defied expectations, becoming a critical and commercial triumph that grossed $8 million during the Great Depression, an unprecedented sum at the time. The success of the film was pivotal in establishing Walt Disney Studios as a powerhouse in Hollywood, funding the construction of the company’s Burbank headquarters and laying the foundation for Disney’s future expansion. The live-action remake, therefore, had immense cultural and historical weight attached to it, but its struggle at the box office suggests that audiences may no longer respond to these classic reimaginings with the same enthusiasm.

The film, directed by Marc Webb, faced numerous challenges leading up to its release. From controversies surrounding its portrayal of the dwarfs to backlash over comments made by lead actress Rachel Zegler, Snow White encountered significant PR hurdles that cast a shadow over its theatrical debut. Additionally, critical reception was largely negative, with the film earning only a 43% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that audiences were not won over by Disney’s latest reimagining.

How Does ‘Snow White’ Compare to Other Disney Live-Action Remakes?

Disney’s track record with live-action adaptations has been mixed, with some films generating substantial global revenue while others have struggled. The studio’s modern strategy of remaking its animated classics in live-action began with 101 Dalmatians (1996), but it wasn’t until Alice in Wonderland (2010) that the formula proved to be a massive commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide. Subsequent films like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Lion King (2019) followed suit, both crossing the billion-dollar mark despite receiving criticism for their adherence to nostalgia over creativity.

However, more recent remakes have struggled to achieve similar success. Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake of The Lion King, despite lukewarm reviews, managed to gross over $1.6 billion. In contrast, Dumbo (2019) opened with $46 million, slightly outperforming Snow White but failing to leave a lasting impact. Similarly, The Little Mermaid (2023) faced an uphill battle, generating significant revenue but falling short of its expected box office dominance.

Comparatively, Snow White fell short of the $67.9 million opening achieved by Cinderella in 2015, making it one of the weakest openings among Disney’s live-action adaptations. Internationally, the film collected an additional $44.3 million, bringing its global debut to $87.3 million—well below the $100 million opening that industry analysts had initially projected.

This lackluster performance has reignited discussions about Disney’s long-term strategy of reimagining its animated vault in live-action. While upcoming projects like Moana and Tangled are still in development, the commercial struggles of Snow White may force the studio to reassess its approach to these remakes.

What Controversies Surrounded ‘Snow White’ Before Its Release?

The remake was plagued by controversies well before its release, primarily due to its treatment of the Seven Dwarfs and backlash over Zegler’s public comments.

The original 1937 film’s portrayal of the dwarfs was seen as a defining aspect of its charm, with each character given a distinct personality that contributed to the story’s enduring appeal. In contrast, the 2025 remake opted for a different approach, replacing the traditional dwarfs with CGI-rendered characters. The decision was largely influenced by criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, who called the film’s approach “backward” in 2022, arguing that it reinforced outdated stereotypes. In response, Disney dropped “and the Seven Dwarfs” from the title and attempted a modernized interpretation, but the move alienated both disability rights advocates and nostalgic fans.

Further complicating matters, Rachel Zegler’s comments about the original 1937 film fueled additional controversy. The actress dismissed the animated version’s romantic storyline and criticized its portrayal of Snow White, calling her an outdated female protagonist. While Zegler’s remarks were likely intended to promote the film’s modernized approach, they were perceived by some audiences as dismissive of the beloved classic. This led to widespread criticism, particularly from conservative commentators who accused Disney of injecting modern social commentary into a nostalgic story.

Adding to the film’s struggles, multiple delays and costly reshoots inflated its budget, further raising the stakes for its box office performance. Given these factors, Snow White entered theaters under a cloud of controversy that likely impacted its ability to attract the family audience that typically drives Disney’s biggest hits.

Is Disney’s Live-Action Strategy Losing Steam?

The poor debut of Snow White comes at a time when Disney’s broader film strategy is facing increased scrutiny. Recent misfires, such as The Marvels and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, have prompted questions about whether the studio has become too reliant on established intellectual properties at the expense of original storytelling.

Disney’s ability to recover from slow openings has been demonstrated in the past. For instance, Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King started with a $35.4 million domestic debut but eventually climbed to over $717 million worldwide. While Snow White has little direct competition in the coming weeks, its muted opening suggests that even with strong legs, the film may struggle to break even—let alone become a major success.

Additionally, Snow White is releasing in a year where Hollywood has been struggling overall. According to data from Comscore, 2025’s box office revenue is down nearly 7% from last year and is still lagging 38.6% behind pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The broader slowdown in ticket sales suggests that audiences are becoming increasingly selective about which films they watch in theaters, making it even more difficult for Snow White to recover from its weak debut.

What’s Next for Disney’s Live-Action Remakes?

With Disney already investing in upcoming live-action versions of Moana and Tangled, the financial performance of Snow White may influence how aggressively the studio continues down this path. If box office trends continue to reflect waning audience enthusiasm for these remakes, Disney may need to pivot toward fresh storytelling rather than rehashing past successes.

For now, Snow White remains a case study in how a combination of PR missteps, creative choices, and shifting audience preferences can impact a high-budget studio film. Whether it will manage to turn things around in the coming weeks—or be remembered as a turning point in Disney’s live-action strategy—remains to be seen.