it’s March 23, 2025, and Disney’s live-action Snow White remake just hit theaters this weekend. I don’t know about you, but I was curious to see how this one would land Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, a big shiny budget, the works. But the early word? It’s not exactly a fairy-tale ending at the box office. The numbers are trickling in, and it’s looking like a sleepy $43 million debut here in the U.S., with about $87 million worldwide once you toss in the overseas haul. For a movie that cost over $250 million to make some say closer to $270 million that’s a tough start. Let’s unpack what’s going on.
The Hype That Didn’t Quite Deliver
Disney’s been churning out these live-action remakes for years now, and they’ve had some monster hits think Beauty and the Beast pulling in $174 million on its opening weekend back in 2017, or The Lion King roaring to $191 million in 2019. Even The Little Mermaid last year kicked off with $95 million. So, $43 million for Snow White? It’s not even in the same league. I mean, it’s beating out flops like Dumbo’s $45 million from 2019, but that’s not saying much Dumbo had a smaller budget and still didn’t turn heads.
A month ago, folks were guessing this could open between $65 and $85 million domestically. Even as late as last week, projections were hovering around $45 to $55 million. But $43 million? That’s scraping the bottom of the barrel for a Disney tentpole. Thursday previews only brought in $3.5 million not terrible for a family flick, since those don’t usually explode midweek, but nowhere near The Little Mermaid’s $10.3 million kickoff. It’s like the magic mirror told Disney, “You’re not the fairest at the box office this time.”
What’s Behind the Slow Start?
Okay, let’s be real this movie’s been dragging a lot of baggage. Ever since they announced it, there’s been noise. Rachel Zegler caught flak for saying the 1937 original was dated stuff like the prince being a “stalker” and Snow White not needing a guy to save her. Fair enough, it’s 2025, and maybe the old story could use a tweak. But that rubbed some fans the wrong way, especially when she doubled down on making it “more feminist.” Then there’s the dwarf controversy Disney swapped the seven dwarfs for CGI “magical creatures” after pushback from folks like Peter Dinklage, who called out the original setup as backwards. They tried to dodge stereotypes, but it left people split some mad about the change, others mad it wasn’t enough.
And don’t get me started on the Zegler-Gadot clash. Rachel’s been vocal about Palestine, while Gal, who’s Israeli, has her own stance on the Gaza mess. That’s sparked boycott calls from both sides of the Israel-Hamas debate, turning a kids’ movie into a political hot potato. Disney even scaled back the premiere no red carpet, no big interviews just to duck the drama. Add in pricey reshoots that jacked up the budget, and you’ve got a recipe for a rocky launch.
How’s It Playing?
Critics aren’t exactly singing “Heigh-Ho” either. It’s sitting at a meh 44% on Rotten Tomatoes—not rotten enough to bury it, but not fresh enough to brag about. Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore, which is rare for Disney remakes most get an A-something. Kids and teens liked it more, bumping it to an A-, but that’s still not the golden ticket Disney’s used to. On X, it’s a mixed bag some folks are calling it “woke trash” and cheering the low numbers, while others are like, “Hey, it’s fine, chill out.” One post I saw said it’s “potentially Disney’s biggest flop,” and another pegged it at “46% worse than The Marvels” on previews. Harsh, but the sentiment’s out there.
Can It Bounce Back?
Here’s the thing $43 million isn’t a death sentence. Disney’s got a knack for legging these out. Look at Mufasa: The Lion King it started at $35 million last December but rode the holiday wave to over $700 million worldwide. Snow White doesn’t have Christmas, but it’s got a clear runway nothing big for families hits until A Minecraft Movie drops April 4. Spring break’s scattered over the next few weeks, so if moms and kids keep showing up, it could climb. That B+ might mean decent word of mouth, especially with the under-18 crowd.
But let’s do the math. With a $250 million budget plus marketing, which could push the total cost past $350 million it needs to hit around $600 million globally to break even, maybe more. At $87 million out the gate, it’s got a long road ahead. Dumbo limped to $353 million total, and The Little Mermaid tapped out at $569 million not flops, but not home runs either. Snow White would need a Mufasa-style miracle to turn a profit, and with reviews this lukewarm, I’m not holding my breath.
What’s It Mean for Disney?
This stumble’s gotta sting for Disney. They’ve been banking on nostalgia, but the remake well might be drying up. Posts on X are already crowing about “woke” flops, saying stuff like “Disney’s trashed another crown jewel.” Maybe they’re onto something pushing too hard for “modern audiences” can backfire when the crowd just wants the old magic. But Disney’s not down for the count. They’ve got Lilo & Stitch coming in May, Zootopia 2 and Avatar 3 later this year big swings that could balance the books.
For now, Snow White’s a wake-up call. It’s the second-biggest opener of 2025 so far behind Captain America: Brave New World’s $88 million but that’s a low bar for a year that’s already 7% behind 2024’s pace. Maybe it’ll surprise us and find its legs. Or maybe it’s a sign Disney needs to rethink the playbook. Either way, I’m grabbing popcorn for the final numbers tomorrow this one’s a story worth watching.
The Hype That Didn’t Quite Deliver
Disney’s been churning out these live-action remakes for years now, and they’ve had some monster hits think Beauty and the Beast pulling in $174 million on its opening weekend back in 2017, or The Lion King roaring to $191 million in 2019. Even The Little Mermaid last year kicked off with $95 million. So, $43 million for Snow White? It’s not even in the same league. I mean, it’s beating out flops like Dumbo’s $45 million from 2019, but that’s not saying much Dumbo had a smaller budget and still didn’t turn heads.
A month ago, folks were guessing this could open between $65 and $85 million domestically. Even as late as last week, projections were hovering around $45 to $55 million. But $43 million? That’s scraping the bottom of the barrel for a Disney tentpole. Thursday previews only brought in $3.5 million not terrible for a family flick, since those don’t usually explode midweek, but nowhere near The Little Mermaid’s $10.3 million kickoff. It’s like the magic mirror told Disney, “You’re not the fairest at the box office this time.”
What’s Behind the Slow Start?
Okay, let’s be real this movie’s been dragging a lot of baggage. Ever since they announced it, there’s been noise. Rachel Zegler caught flak for saying the 1937 original was dated stuff like the prince being a “stalker” and Snow White not needing a guy to save her. Fair enough, it’s 2025, and maybe the old story could use a tweak. But that rubbed some fans the wrong way, especially when she doubled down on making it “more feminist.” Then there’s the dwarf controversy Disney swapped the seven dwarfs for CGI “magical creatures” after pushback from folks like Peter Dinklage, who called out the original setup as backwards. They tried to dodge stereotypes, but it left people split some mad about the change, others mad it wasn’t enough.
And don’t get me started on the Zegler-Gadot clash. Rachel’s been vocal about Palestine, while Gal, who’s Israeli, has her own stance on the Gaza mess. That’s sparked boycott calls from both sides of the Israel-Hamas debate, turning a kids’ movie into a political hot potato. Disney even scaled back the premiere no red carpet, no big interviews just to duck the drama. Add in pricey reshoots that jacked up the budget, and you’ve got a recipe for a rocky launch.
How’s It Playing?
Critics aren’t exactly singing “Heigh-Ho” either. It’s sitting at a meh 44% on Rotten Tomatoes—not rotten enough to bury it, but not fresh enough to brag about. Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore, which is rare for Disney remakes most get an A-something. Kids and teens liked it more, bumping it to an A-, but that’s still not the golden ticket Disney’s used to. On X, it’s a mixed bag some folks are calling it “woke trash” and cheering the low numbers, while others are like, “Hey, it’s fine, chill out.” One post I saw said it’s “potentially Disney’s biggest flop,” and another pegged it at “46% worse than The Marvels” on previews. Harsh, but the sentiment’s out there.
Can It Bounce Back?
Here’s the thing $43 million isn’t a death sentence. Disney’s got a knack for legging these out. Look at Mufasa: The Lion King it started at $35 million last December but rode the holiday wave to over $700 million worldwide. Snow White doesn’t have Christmas, but it’s got a clear runway nothing big for families hits until A Minecraft Movie drops April 4. Spring break’s scattered over the next few weeks, so if moms and kids keep showing up, it could climb. That B+ might mean decent word of mouth, especially with the under-18 crowd.
But let’s do the math. With a $250 million budget plus marketing, which could push the total cost past $350 million it needs to hit around $600 million globally to break even, maybe more. At $87 million out the gate, it’s got a long road ahead. Dumbo limped to $353 million total, and The Little Mermaid tapped out at $569 million not flops, but not home runs either. Snow White would need a Mufasa-style miracle to turn a profit, and with reviews this lukewarm, I’m not holding my breath.
What’s It Mean for Disney?
This stumble’s gotta sting for Disney. They’ve been banking on nostalgia, but the remake well might be drying up. Posts on X are already crowing about “woke” flops, saying stuff like “Disney’s trashed another crown jewel.” Maybe they’re onto something pushing too hard for “modern audiences” can backfire when the crowd just wants the old magic. But Disney’s not down for the count. They’ve got Lilo & Stitch coming in May, Zootopia 2 and Avatar 3 later this year big swings that could balance the books.
For now, Snow White’s a wake-up call. It’s the second-biggest opener of 2025 so far behind Captain America: Brave New World’s $88 million but that’s a low bar for a year that’s already 7% behind 2024’s pace. Maybe it’ll surprise us and find its legs. Or maybe it’s a sign Disney needs to rethink the playbook. Either way, I’m grabbing popcorn for the final numbers tomorrow this one’s a story worth watching.
