The 2025 live-action remake of Disney's *Snow White* appears to have underperformed at the box office based on early reports from its opening weekend, which began March 21, 2025. Several factors likely contributed to its flop status, drawing from available data and public sentiment as of March 23, 2025:
1. **Controversies and Backlash**: The film faced significant criticism well before its release. Lead actress Rachel Zegler’s comments about the original 1937 animated classic—calling it dated and criticizing the prince’s role—alienated some fans who cherished the traditional story. Her outspoken political views, including post-2024 election remarks against Donald Trump and his supporters, further fueled conservative backlash. Additionally, casting Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as Snow White sparked accusations of "race-swapping," despite the film explaining her name as tied to a snowstorm rather than skin color.
2. **Creative Changes and Reception**: The decision to reimagine the seven dwarfs as CGI "magical creatures" rather than human actors with dwarfism drew ire from multiple groups. Actor Peter Dinklage criticized Disney for perpetuating stereotypes, while others in the dwarfism community lamented lost acting opportunities. Critics also panned the film’s storyline revisions and new songs by Pasek and Paul, describing them as forgettable or lacking charm. With a Rotten Tomatoes score hovering around 44-49%, reviews highlighted a lack of cohesion, bland execution, and Gal Gadot’s underwhelming performance as the Evil Queen, despite praise for Zegler’s charisma.
3. **Box Office Performance**: Early figures indicate a global opening of approximately $87.3 million ($43 million domestic, $44.3 million international), far below pre-release projections of $65-85 million domestically. With a reported production budget of $250-270 million (possibly up to $350 million including marketing), the film would need to gross $625-875 million worldwide to break even—a target it seems unlikely to reach given its weak start and a B+ CinemaScore, signaling tepid audience approval.
4. **Disney Fatigue and Market Factors**: Disney’s string of live-action remakes has led to audience fatigue, especially when compared to more successful entries like *The Lion King* ($191.8 million opening) or *Beauty and the Beast* ($174.7 million). *Snow White*’s $43 million domestic debut is closer to the lackluster *Dumbo* ($46 million) than hits like *The Little Mermaid* ($95.5 million). Weak marketing, a scaled-back premiere, and competition in a slow March box office may have compounded its struggles.
5. **Polarization and Cultural Divide**: The film became a lightning rod in the culture wars, with accusations of being "woke" due to its progressive tweaks (e.g., shifting "fairest" from beauty to justice) and diverse casting. This alienated segments of the audience, while pro-Palestinian criticism of Gadot’s pro-Israel stance and Zegler’s pro-Palestine comments created additional friction. Disney’s attempt to navigate these tensions left the film without a unified fanbase.
In summary, *Snow White* 2025 likely flopped due to a toxic mix of pre-release controversies, divisive creative choices, poor critical reception, and a failure to recapture the magic of the original for a broad audience—all reflected in its disappointing box office haul. While it’s early to judge its full financial fate, the initial signs point to a costly misstep for Disney.