Disney’s latest venture into live-action adaptations has not started off on the right foot. The much-anticipated “Snow White,” starring Rachel Zegler, opened to a worldwide box office gross of just $87.3 million. Given its hefty production budget of $270 million, this outcome spells trouble for the studio. The movie narrowly missed even the low end of industry expectations, drawing in only $43 million domestically across 4,200 theaters.
Comparing “Snow White” to previous Disney remakes further highlights the disappointment. “The Little Mermaid” raked in $95.5 million domestically in its opening weekend, while “Dumbo” garnered $45 million. Though “Snow White” managed to outperform “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which collected $35.4 million, the latter film surprisingly turned into a ‘sleeper hit,’ eventually grossing $718 million worldwide.
A rescue mission comparable to “Mufasa” seems out of reach for “Snow White.” Audience reactions indicate firmly diverging fates: while “Mufasa” holds a respectable IMDB score of 6.6, “Snow White” languishes at a dismal 2.0. From the outset, the film faced backlash—casting Latina actress Rachel Zegler as Snow White, who traditionally has “skin as white as snow,” didn’t sit well with many fans. Further controversies abounded, including Zegler’s critical comments on the original 1937 film and her public political stances, making it a hard sell for the broader audience.
Just days before the premiere, tensions between Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot over their differing views on the Israeli-Palestine conflict led Disney to cancel a promotional event in London. Adding fuel to the fire, social media buzzed with images of largely empty theaters, further showcasing the movie’s struggle to capture interest.
What might this limited opening suggest for Disney’s “Snow White”? Unless a miraculous turnaround occurs, projections hint at a grim financial forecast. Hitting $300 million globally would be fortunate, yet even then, Disney would likely face a substantial loss, given the break-even point is speculated to be around $600–$650 million.
Share your thoughts in the comments below! Did you watch the movie? What are your opinions on Disney’s live-action adaptations? Engage with us and share the story!
Source: [Márton Losonczi](https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/snow-white-box-office-flop-disney/)
