Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White, hit theaters on March 21, 2025, with a blend of anticipation and controversy trailing its release. Starring Rachel Zegler as the iconic princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, this reimagining of the 1937 animated classic aimed to breathe new life into a nearly century-old fairy tale. However, its box office performance has sparked discussions about whether Disney’s magic touch with live-action remakes is beginning to wane.
Opening Weekend Projections
As of Saturday, March 22, 2025, early box office figures indicate that Snow White kicked off with $3.5 million in Thursday previews across the U.S., according to industry reports. Projections for its opening weekend hover between $45 million and $55 million domestically, with a global debut expected to surpass $100 million. While these numbers secure the film a top spot for the weekend, they fall short of the lofty expectations set by Disney’s previous live-action successes like The Lion King (2019), which opened to $191.8 million, or Beauty and the Beast (2017), which debuted at $174.6 million.
For comparison, Snow White’s start aligns more closely with Disney’s 2019 remake of Dumbo, which launched with $46 million domestically—a film widely considered a financial disappointment given its $170 million budget. Snow White, with a reported production cost exceeding $250 million (some estimates peg it closer to $270 million), faces a steeper climb to profitability. Industry analysts suggest that a film of this scale needs to gross at least $600 million worldwide to break even, factoring in marketing costs and the standard 50% split with theaters.
A Rocky Road to Release
The film’s journey to the big screen was anything but smooth. Initially slated for March 2024, Snow White was delayed a full year due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and subsequent reshoots. Controversies also swirled around the project, from debates over Zegler’s casting—she is of Colombian descent, prompting backlash over the character’s traditionally fair-skinned depiction—to her public criticisms of the original 1937 film as “dated” and her political statements, including a post-election outburst against Donald Trump in November 2024. Add to that the decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI characters rather than actors with dwarfism—a move criticized by some, including actor Peter Dinklage—and Disney found itself navigating a PR minefield.
Despite these hurdles, Disney pressed forward, banking on the brand’s enduring appeal and a lack of direct competition in the spring break window. The studio scaled back its premiere, skipping a traditional red carpet to avoid tough questions, and leaned heavily on Zegler’s star power and new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to draw crowds.
Performance in Context
While Snow White’s $45-55 million domestic opening is modest compared to Disney’s billion-dollar remake hits like Aladdin ($91 million debut) or The Little Mermaid (2023, $95.5 million), it’s not a complete washout. The film outpaces flops like Solo: A Star Wars Story ($84.4 million opening but a disappointing run) and Warner Bros.’ The Alto Knights, which debuted alongside Snow White to a dismal $3 million. It also marks the second-highest opening of 2025 so far, trailing only Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million).
Yet, the numbers tell a cautionary tale. Audience reception, reflected in a B+ CinemaScore and a 71% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, suggests lukewarm enthusiasm. Critics have been harsher, with a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, often citing a lack of fresh storytelling despite Zegler’s praised performance. For a film with such a hefty price tag, these metrics hint at a challenging road ahead.
Can It Bounce Back?
Disney has seen sleeper hits before. Mufasa: The Lion King, released in December 2024, opened to a soft $35.4 million but legged out to over $717 million worldwide thanks to strong holiday play and family appeal. Snow White could follow a similar path, especially with 25% of K-12 schools off this week, per Comscore, and no major family-friendly competition until A Minecraft Movie arrives in two weeks. However, without the Christmas corridor boost that buoyed Mufasa, it’ll need to rely on word-of-mouth and international markets—where it’s rolling out widely, except in some Middle Eastern regions due to Ramadan—to gain momentum.
The Bigger Picture
The Snow White box office saga raises questions about Disney’s live-action remake strategy. While earlier efforts like Cinderella (2015, $67.9 million opening) and Maleficent (2014, $69.4 million) turned tidy profits, recent entries show diminishing returns. The Little Mermaid grossed $569 million worldwide but fell short of blockbuster status, and now Snow White risks joining Dumbo in the “costly misfire” category. Is the public growing weary of these retellings, or did Snow White’s controversies sap its fairy-tale charm?
For now, Disney’s glass slipper doesn’t quite fit. The film’s fate will unfold over the coming weeks, but its opening suggests that even a beloved princess can’t guarantee a happily-ever-after at the box office.
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