Beyond the Magic Mirror: Snow White’s Box Office Struggles

Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has taken the top spot at the domestic box office with a leading $43 million debut. However, given the fairy tale reboot’s massive production budget, the number is considered to be somewhat sluggish. While the film struggled to captivate American audiences, its performance overseas also fell short of expectations, grossing $44.3 million for a global launch of $87.3 million. That said, can the remake regain its momentum and reach its global haul of $100 million, or will it continue to underperform?

Controversies Surrounding Iconic Snow White Story

Unfortunately, Snow White hit the big scream amidst a swirl of controversies, including backlash over changes to the beloved, nearly 100-year-old story and its depiction of the seven dwarves. Additionally, the public stances on the Isreal-Hamas war from co-stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot became an issue, sparking calls for boycotts. Not only that, but expensive reshoots added millions to the film’s budget, making matters even worse. 

Despite these challenges, Disney changed tactics with a more subdued Los Angeles premiere. Specifically, to minimize potential controversy, the company removed the traditional red-carpet interviews. Yet, according to analysts, this move may have been unnecessary as the wave of bad publicity may have had little impact on the film’s overall ticket sales. Furthermore, its casting choices were also criticized, particularly Rachel Zegler being chosen to play Snow White. Notably, Ziegler was highly recommended for the role by Steven Spielberg, who directed her in the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story.

Another Lackluster Debut for Disney Remakes

According to senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian, the controversies surrounding a film’s release are never ideal. Nevertheless, he suggests that Snow White‘s PG rating and unawareness of its surrounding controversies were likely reasons that families with young children went to see it. Yet, the cinematic reimagining of the 1937 animated classic has achieved a lackluster domestic debut, making it the lowest opening among Disney’s various reimaginings. In fact, the film didn’t even surpass the 2019 film, Dumbo, which debuted with $45 million. 

Previous Disney remakes, in contrast to Snow White, have consistently performed well at the box office. Specifically, films that opened with impressive numbers, exceeding $100 million in their debut weekends, include:

• The Little Mermaid
• The Jungle Book
• Aladdin
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Lion King

Among these films, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King would become billion-dollar blockbusters, while The Jungle Book came close with a staggering $967 million.

Disney’s Optimism on Snow White‘s Success

Although the box office fortunes of Snow White remain uncertain, whether it succeeds or fails hinges on its staying power. If the $250 musical film follows a similar trajectory to Dumbo, which grossed a dull $353 million globally, it may indicate that audiences have grown weary of Disney’s live-action remakes. Unfortunately, Snow White isn’t the only Disney princess to fall victim to this trend since Ariel experienced this setback too. Specifically, The Little Mermaid fell short of expectations, grossing only $569 million worldwide in 2023. With Lilo & Stitch set to hit theaters in May, Disney’s strategy of revisiting classic tales will continue to be tested. Disney remains optimistic about Snow White‘s prospects despite its underwhelming opening. The studio believes the film will follow the same successful trajectory of 2024’s Mufasa. Although The Lion King prequel opened softly in December, it ultimately climbed to reach an impressive global total of $716 million at the box office. While the musical’s overall performance doesn’t indicate much about its overall success, several factors are working in its favor. Given its brand recognition and lack of family-friendly competition, it can attract and retain audiences without much trouble.

Snow White‘s Long-lasting Impact Starts Now

According to CinemaScore exit polls, women have resonated with the film, accounting for nearly 70% of opening weekend crowds, giving it a solid “A-” grade. Furthermore, David A. Gross, founder of the FranchiseRe movie consulting firm, emphasized that Snow White isn’t a typical Disney juggernaut but a soft opening by the studio’s historical standards. Additionally, Gross stated that Disney’s expertise in supporting their films alongside a favorable release window could help the musical follow in Mufasa’s footsteps, becoming successful through steady, long-term performance. As Gross points out, theatrical releases are only the beginning for Disney’s animation division as Snow White is expected to become a merchandising goldmine, with its intellectual property likely to find a home in Disney’s theme parks, further ensuring its enduring popularity.