Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025) is officially wrapping its theatrical run, and the results have fallen far short of expectations—marking a major setback for the studio’s live-action remake strategy.
Originally slated for release in 2024, Snow White finally arrived in theaters on March 21, 2025, after a full year of delays. But even with the additional production time, the reimagined fairy tale struggled to find its footing with audiences. From the moment it hit screens, the film faced an uphill battle at the box office and in public perception.
Much of the early attention centered on leading actress Rachel Zegler, who was cast as the iconic princess. Zegler became a lightning rod for controversy after resurfaced interviews from 2022 revealed her vision of Snow White as a character far more independent—and far less focused on romance—than her 1937 predecessor.
Zegler explained that her Snow White would not be dreaming about true love or waiting for a prince to save her, and even suggested the original prince could be viewed as a stalker. These comments triggered swift backlash from longtime fans, who felt the creative team was steering too far from the timeless charm of the original film.
The screenplay, penned by The Girl on the Train writer Erin Cressida Wilson, leans heavily into a modernized approach to the classic tale. While some praised the updated narrative, many others criticized the film’s creative choices—including casting decisions, the portrayal of the dwarfs, and the overall thematic direction.
In more recent interviews, Zegler has acknowledged the controversy, noting that much of the resistance stems from audiences’ deep emotional attachment to the 1937 film.
Complicating matters further were persistent rumors of behind-the-scenes tension between Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. According to reports, their differing political views strained their relationship, and the friction became increasingly evident as the film’s promotional campaign scaled back its planned European and U.S. premieres.
Last month, Variety published a feature story shedding light on some of the turmoil surrounding Snow White‘s rollout. One major flashpoint came after Zegler posted a “Free Palestine” message on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the film’s trailer dropped. The October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel reignited international debate over the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Zegler’s post quickly drew attention.
Meanwhile, Gadot—an Israeli native and former member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—publicly voiced her support for Israel, adding another layer of controversy to the film’s narrative off-screen.
Box office projections heading into the release were already cautious, estimating a $53 million domestic opening against a reported production budget of more than $270 million. Ultimately, even those muted expectations proved too high. Snow White opened to just $42 million in North America.
More than a month into its theatrical run, Disney’s live-action Snow White finds itself in the shadow of the original 1937 masterpiece. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs holds a historic place as the first full-length animated feature film and a foundational piece of the Disney empire.
According to Box Office Mojo, Disney’s Snow White has currently grossed $194,769,639 worldwide, with $85,294,172 coming from domestic markets and $109,475,467 internationally. Forbes broke down the financial picture, noting: “Assuming an approximate 50-50 split means that Snow White needs to gross at least $427.8 million for Disney to cover its costs at the box office.”
Alongside Zegler and Gadot, the cast includes Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, Jeremy Swift as Doc, Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, George Salazar as Happy, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy, and Jason Kravits as Sneezy.
With Snow White underperforming, Disney is now looking ahead to another live-action project—Lilo & Stitch—which is shaping up to be a much stronger contender at the box office.
Initially developed for a Disney+ release, Lilo & Stitch pivoted to a full theatrical launch mid-production, similar to the path taken by Moana 2 (2024). So far, early tracking suggests a promising start.
Deadline reports that, “Six weekend-in-advance tracking has hit for both movies on Quorum, with Lilo & Stitch eyeing a $100M+ 3-day opening and [Mission: Impossible 8] eyeing a record 3-day for the franchise, well north of 2018’s Mission: Impossible–Fallout’s $61M.”
Whether Snow White will find a second life on Disney+ or through expanded international releases remains to be seen. However, what’s clear is that Disney’s approach to reimagining its animated classics is entering a new phase—one where audiences are speaking out louder than ever about how these beloved stories are being retold for modern viewers.
How do you feel about Disney’s Snow White? Let us know in the comments below!
Snow white, the newest one, was they let down for what Disney. This has been in most of their live action stuff to me has been let down or it has been for me and my grandchildren.