Disney has spent the last several years steadily building a new live-action library, reimagining its most iconic animated classics. And while some of these films have been warmly received — earning both box office success and fan appreciation — others have arrived with more controversy than celebration. The latest addition to that lineup, however, has sparked more conversation than most.
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From the beginning, the live-action Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) remake seemed destined to face scrutiny. Disney first confirmed the project nearly a decade ago, but it wasn’t until the casting of the titular role that fan reactions began to intensify.
When the company announced in 2021 that Rachel Zegler would portray Snow White, conversation across social media immediately picked up. While Zegler is known for her work in West Side Story (2021), many Disney fans were more interested in her off-screen comments than her filmography.
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In press interviews leading up to the film’s release, Zegler spoke candidly about how this version of Snow White would be different from the 1937 original. She described her princess as “less passive” and suggested that the traditional storyline might not need a prince at all.
In one particularly viral moment, she even referred to the prince character as a “stalker,” a remark that stirred strong opinions on both sides. While some praised her fresh take on the character, others felt it dismissed a beloved classic.
The reactions to Zegler’s statements, combined with a broader fatigue toward Disney’s live-action formula, may have contributed to the film’s disappointing theatrical run.
After nearly a month in theaters, Snow White has earned less than $200 million globally—a number well below the estimated $427 million needed to break even. Critics weren’t especially kind either, awarding it a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though the audience score sits significantly higher at 72%.
Despite the rocky reception, some fans are still interested in seeing the film — but from the comfort of their own homes. That’s led to a growing question: When will Snow White begin streaming on Disney+?
Looking at Disney’s recent release history can provide some clues. For instance, Moana 2 premiered on November 27, 2024, and arrived on Disney+ by March 12, just over three months later. Inside Out 2 had a similar window, hitting theaters on June 14 and streaming on September 25. In contrast, Wish took more than four months to make the leap from theaters to streaming platforms.
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If Snow White follows the same timeline, Disney+ subscribers can likely expect it to arrive around mid-to-late July 2025. However, given the film’s underperformance at the box office, it’s possible that Disney could opt for an earlier streaming release in an effort to boost overall viewership.
The studio has taken this route before with other titles that struggled theatrically, though nothing official has been announced just yet.
In the meantime, viewers who can’t wait for a Disney+ release may see the film appear for digital purchase on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV first. This typically happens a few weeks before a movie starts streaming as part of a subscription service.
As always, Disney Dining will continue tracking updates from Disney and provide the latest news on Snow White’s digital debut. Whether you’ve already seen the film in theaters or are holding out for home release, the wait likely won’t be too much longer.
Have you watched Snow White yet, or are you waiting for it to hit streaming? Do you think Disney should fast-track the release, or stick with their traditional timeline? Let us know in the comments!
I wouldn’t watch snow white if they gave away free tickets! Totally did Walt Disney injustice the way this was filmed. No big surprise it bombed right