Disney’s Snow White Stumbles but Still Takes the Crown

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Disney’s Snow White Stumbles but Still Takes the Crown

Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White, may not have had a fairy-tale opening, but it still landed in first place at the domestic box office this weekend. With a $43 million debut, it’s a modest start by Disney’s standards—especially compared to past remakes—but still enough to outshine the competition.

The film’s journey to the big screen has been anything but smooth. From casting controversies to divisive CGI choices, Snow White faced heavy online scrutiny long before its release. Lead actress Rachel Zegler’s casting sparked debate due to her Colombian heritage, while political tensions surrounding her and Gal Gadot further fueled discourse. Disney, wary of the backlash, opted for a quieter marketing approach, even keeping journalists away from the premiere’s red carpet.

But did the bad press hurt the film? Not necessarily. Analysts point out that the loudest voices in online debates aren’t always the ones buying movie tickets for their kids. Parents, when given a choice between Snow White and the already weeks-old Paddington in Peru, still opted for Disney magic—flawed as it may be.

That said, Snow White’s underwhelming opening raises a bigger question: Is the live-action remake formula losing its charm? The film now holds the lowest domestic debut among Disney’s cartoon-to-live-action adaptations, falling short of Dumbo’s $45 million opening in 2019.

Still, the story isn’t over. Snow White’s ultimate success will depend on its global box office run and, perhaps more importantly, Disney’s merchandising machine. A lackluster debut doesn’t mean Disney won’t turn this into a happily ever after—at least at the cash register.

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