- Snow White opens with $3.5M in previews, trailing behind other Disney remakes.
- The film faces backlash over casting, story changes, and political controversies.
- With a $250M budget, Disney hopes strong weekend turnout can turn things around.
Despite its strong brand recognition, Snow White is underperforming at the box office, with projections of $45M-$55M for its opening weekend. This falls short of expectations, especially compared to successful Disney remakes like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
The controversies surrounding Rachel Zegler’s comments on the original film, the reimagining of iconic elements, and political discourse around Gal Gadot have overshadowed its release. Audience interest among young women—Disney’s key demographic—has also dropped.
Can Snow White Overcome Its Box Office Woes
Opening with just $3.5 million in previews, Snow White is off to a slow start, signaling possible struggles in attracting audiences. Compared to past Disney live-action successes, this remake is significantly underperforming. Given its $250M production budget, Disney needs strong legs beyond the opening weekend to avoid a financial disappointment.
The film has been divisive, with fans split on its modernization efforts. Changes to the storyline, character dynamics, and music have received mixed feedback. While children have responded positively, older audiences—who grew up with the 1937 classic—have expressed dissatisfaction, potentially limiting its word-of-mouth appeal.
The controversies leading up to its release—ranging from Rachel Zegler’s outspoken comments to Gal Gadot’s political stance—have impacted audience sentiment. Additionally, its Rotten Tomatoes score of 46% suggests that critics aren’t fully on board with the film either. Negative social media chatter could further affect its performance in the coming weeks.
With no direct competition at the box office, Snow White still has an opportunity to attract family audiences, particularly over spring break. However, interest among key demographics is dwindling, and Disney will have to rely on nostalgia and positive word-of-mouth to sustain the film’s run. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether it can defy early projections or become another expensive misfire.
Disney’s Snow White finds itself in a precarious position, struggling to balance nostalgia with reinvention while navigating controversies. Whether it can turn things around or fade into box office obscurity remains to be seen.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin
