Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, “Snow White,” experienced a lackluster debut at the box office, raising concerns about the film’s financial trajectory.
The film garnered $43 million domestically and an additional $44 million internationally, culminating in a global opening of $87 million. These figures fall short of earlier projections, which anticipated domestic earnings between $48 million and $58 million. Notably, previous Disney remakes like “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” achieved opening weekends of $191 million and $174 million, respectively.
The production’s substantial budget, estimated at over $250 million, intensifies the impact of these underwhelming earnings.
Additionally, Zegler’s public critiques of the original 1937 animated film have sparked debate among audiences. During a Disney expo in 2022, Zegler stated, “I mean, you know, the original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird. So we didn’t do that this time.”
Critics have claimed that while most remakes seek to bring the audience’s favorite characters to life with a sense of warmth and personality, ‘Snow White’ failed to do so with the exception of Zegler.
The Associated Press commented on the film saying, “Presumably one of the reasons to bring actors into remakes of animated classics would be to add a warm-blooded pulse to these characters. Zegler manages that, but everyone else in ‘Snow White’ – mortal or CGI – is as stiff as could be.”
Political dynamics among the cast have added to the film’s challenges. Zegler’s support for Palestinians contrasts with her Israeli-born co-star Gal Gadot, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions.
Despite these issues, “Snow White” managed to secure the top spot at the weekend box office, outperforming other releases such as “Black Bag” and “Mickey 17.” However, the film’s debut remains one of Disney’s lowest for a live-action remake, prompting discussions about the viability of reimagining classic tales for modern audiences.
