Disney’s live-action Snow White remake was supposed to be a massive success. Instead, it’s turning into a defining failure—one that could reshape the company’s creative direction for years to come.
With projections showing a loss of over $100 million, Disney executives may be forced to confront a hard truth: audiences are no longer showing up for movies that seem to put politics ahead of story. And just like how The Marvels resulted in Marvel Studios hitting pause on several projects, it looks like Snow White is having a similar, if not more significant, ripple effect across the company.
The numbers tell a troubling story. The film cost around $270 million to produce, but it’s unlikely to clear even $200 million globally. At this point, insiders expect Disney to eat a loss of at least $115 million—potentially more after marketing and distribution costs are accounted for. This isn’t just a box office disappointment. It’s a signal flare.
Disney had already begun making adjustments following the failure of The Marvels, pulling back on oversaturated Marvel content and spacing out its release calendar. But Snow White may have struck a deeper nerve because this wasn’t just another franchise film. This was a remake of one of Disney’s most iconic properties. A project like this should’ve been immune to underperformance. Instead, it became a lightning rod for fan frustration.
Much of that frustration centered around Snow White’s star, Rachel Zegler. In the months leading up to the film’s release, Zegler made headlines for openly criticizing the 1937 original. She called the love story “weird,” referred to Prince Charming as a “stalker,” and said her character wouldn’t be dreaming about true love, but instead about becoming a leader. While Disney has made efforts in recent years to modernize its princesses, many longtime fans saw this as a bridge too far.
The backlash was swift and sustained. Despite Zegler eventually walking back her comments, the damage was done. Social media was flooded with clips of her interviews, and many potential moviegoers made it clear they weren’t interested in supporting a project that seemed to mock the source material. Some critics even compared her pre-release press tour to Brie Larson’s lead-up to Captain Marvel, which also faced controversy due to its star’s public statements.
But what sets Snow White apart is that the original film holds a foundational place in Disney’s legacy. It was Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature and the cornerstone of everything that followed. To reimagine it in a way that seemingly disregards its roots was viewed by many as tone-deaf—and audiences responded with their wallets.
In the wake of this collapse, Disney has already paused development on the live-action Tangled remake, which insiders believe is part of a broader reassessment. While the studio hasn’t made any sweeping public announcements, the message behind these decisions is becoming clear: the current formula isn’t working.
It’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean Disney is abandoning live-action remakes altogether. These projects still have potential when done with care and a genuine respect for the originals. But it does suggest that the studio may finally be backing away from revisionist takes that alienate the fan base. Films that aim to “fix” or radically alter their source material under the banner of modern values may no longer be viewed as a safe bet.
This doesn’t have to be a step backward. In fact, it might be the course correction many fans have been hoping for. Disney has always been at its best when it focuses on heartfelt storytelling, memorable characters, and themes that transcend time. The original Snow White remains beloved not because it checks boxes, but because it evokes emotion. That’s the magic Disney needs to recapture.
Moving forward, audiences should expect a more careful approach from the studio—one that places story and legacy above agenda. Disney may still embrace progress, but perhaps in ways that feel authentic rather than forced. The pause on Tangled could be the first of several behind-the-scenes pivots that reflect a deeper understanding of what fans truly want.
If The Marvels served as a wake-up call for Marvel Studios, Snow White might be the wake-up call for the rest of Disney. This time, it’s not about superheroes or shared universes. It’s about trust. And if Disney wants to keep earning that from its audience, it needs to start listening.
The only way to shake up those making dumb decisions in their Disney ivory tower is to whack them in the wallet! We, the Disney faithful, have been complaining for years, on our soap boxes and in comments across the internet but no one was listening. DO YOU HEAR US NOW? We are the ones who spend our money on Disney movies, in parks and on merchandise… We’ve been warning you but Snow White is our shot across the bow..
Vincent C, Amen Disney should heard us a long time ago and they wouldn’t have loss so much money.
I’ll bet that most of y’all using the word “woke” as an insult don’t even know where it came from before the right wing coopted it as a pejorative (look it up). If you’re using it to mean “projects that show marginalized people in a positive light,” then what is wrong with that? I think the live action Snow White was doomed because it was poorly mad, poorly cast and unneeded. The animated film is great on its own, even if the damsel in distress has to be rescued (it WAS the 30s). I would like Disney/Pixar to get back to creating amazing original content, and not fall back on remaking already wonderful films and doing unnecessary sequels.
I will say that both the live action Beauty and the Beast and Maleficent were incredible.