Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White” debuted with disappointing ticket sales of $43 million in North America, falling short of industry predictions of $45 to $55 million. The film, which boasts a production budget exceeding $270 million, also garnered mixed reviews, holding a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a CinemaScore of B+, the lowest for any Disney live-action remake.
Internationally, it added $44.3 million, bringing its global total to $87.3 million, significantly below expectations of nearly $100 million.
From the earliest stages of its development, the film was marred by controversies surrounding star Rachel Zegler, who at various times denounced the “problematic” content of the original 1937 version of Snow White, emphasized the more progressive, feminist bent of her portrayal of the iconic princess, and spoke out against Donald Trump and his supporters.
In an Instagram story posted the day after the 2024 election, Zegler said that she hoped that “Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself” would “never know peace.”
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Additional controversy arose over the casting of the film’s titular seven dwarves. After former “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage condemned the casting of actors with dwarfism in “that f***ing backward story,” Disney announced that Snow White’s companions would now be portrayed by a diverse cast of “magical, forest-dwelling creatures.” Leaked set photos revealed that the seven dwarves had been replaced by brightly-dressed people of all races and genders, with all but one played by full-sized people.
Backlash against this casting choice led to a lengthy production delay, allowing the actors to be replaced by CGI dwarves. This, in turn, led to a protest by actors with dwarfism, many of whom objected to Dinklage’s original characterization and accused Disney of depriving them of representation in the film.
The film also found itself facing criticism from both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Zegler being an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause and co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, speaking out in defense of her country.
This underperformance raises questions about Disney’s strategy of remaking animated classics, especially with upcoming projects like ‘Moana’ and ‘Tangled’ on the horizon.
Critics suggest that “Snow White’s” struggles may signal a troubling trend for Disney’s live-action adaptations.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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