The Walt Disney Co.’s live-action remake of “Snow White” debuted in theaters with an estimated $43 million in ticket sales, falling short of expectations given its production budget exceeding $250 million. This film marks a return to Disney's origins, as the 1937 animated “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the company’s first animated feature.
Despite its historical significance, the film faced several challenges prior to its release, including controversies surrounding its portrayal of dwarfs and comments made by lead actress Rachel Zegler. These issues contributed to a muted promotional push. Critics have responded unfavorably, with only 43% of reviews categorized as “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a lack of critical acclaim.
In comparison to other Disney live-action remakes, “Snow White” underperformed at the box office. It opened lower than “Dumbo” (2019) and considerably behind “Cinderella” (2015). Internationally, the film brought in an additional $44.3 million, bringing its total global launch to approximately $87.3 million, which is below earlier expectations of nearly $100 million.
The film's troubled production included significant delays and a shift in title that removed “and the Seven Dwarfs,” opting instead for CGI representation of the dwarfs. This decision was made in response to criticism from actor Peter Dinklage regarding the portrayal of dwarfs in the original narrative.
Other films released over the weekend, such as Warner Bros.’ “Alto Knights” and “Magazine Dreams,” also struggled at the box office, contributing to a broader trend of declining box office revenues, which are down 6.9% from the previous year and 38.6% from 2019.