Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, released in 2025, has not performed well at the global box office. The film had a reported budget of around $410 million, including production and marketing. However, it managed to collect only about $205 million from theaters worldwide. This has made it one of Disney’s most disappointing box office results in the last ten years.
The film earned just $42 million in its opening weekend in North America. For a studio like Disney, that’s considered a weak start. Many film analysts believe the movie failed to attract families and loyal Disney fans, who normally make up a large part of their audience. One major reason was the audience’s mixed reaction to the promotional content before the release.
Criticism started after the trailers were released. People online reacted negatively to the changes in the story and characters. The original Snow White is one of Disney’s most beloved animated classics. But this version made many adjustments that did not sit well with long-time fans. Some viewers felt the film was trying too hard to modernize the tale, while losing the charm of the original.
Another major factor was the controversy involving the lead actress Rachel Zegler. Her interviews and social media statements—where she questioned parts of the classic story—led to public backlash. Many people felt her comments were disrespectful to the original film. Her political remarks and criticism of the traditional fairytale princess role sparked debates, especially on social platforms.
The film also lacked strong marketing compared to past Disney hits. There were fewer promotions, press tours, and premiere events. Disney also pushed back the release date, which may have confused or discouraged some potential viewers. These signs gave the impression that the studio lacked confidence in the project.
Despite its performance in cinemas, Disney is now shifting focus to its streaming service. Snow White (2025) is expected to premiere on Disney+ by summer 2025. The company hopes it might perform better online, especially among younger viewers who prefer streaming over theaters.
Magic mirror on the wall, show us the story that started it all 🪞 Disney’s #SnowWhite is only in theaters March 21, 2025. pic.twitter.com/88u2KkyZh6
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) December 3, 2024
The Impact on Disney’s Future Remakes
The poor performance of Snow White has led Disney to rethink how it handles its live-action remakes. One of the first steps the studio took was putting the Tangled remake on hold. This decision shows that Disney is now more cautious with which classics they choose to adapt next.
Other remakes like Moana and Lilo & Stitch are still in progress, but Disney is reviewing its strategies. Future projects may have stricter creative controls, more careful casting, and storylines that respect the originals more closely. The response to Snow White suggests that today’s audiences want authentic retellings—not complete overhauls of cherished stories.
Here are a few points Disney is likely to focus on moving forward:
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Respecting classic stories: Fans expect modern updates without losing the heart of the original tales.
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Choosing cast carefully: Public image and how actors represent the brand now matter more than ever.
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More cautious promotion: Disney may invest more in community-friendly marketing and avoid controversy.
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Balancing originality with tradition: Future remakes could offer fresh takes while keeping the classic values intact.
Disney will now closely watch how Snow White performs on Disney+. If it manages to do well on streaming, that could help the company recover some of the losses and learn what works best for future releases.
