Oh boy Disney's new Snow White movie just hit theaters and it's not exactly a fairy tale beginning. The live-action remake of the classic animation opened way lower than expected and people are trying to figure out what went wrong. Was it bad buzz online princess fatigue or something else entirely? Let's unpack the story behind Snow White's box office woes.
Sneezy Box Office? Snow White's Opening Numbers are Less Than Magical
So Snow White was projected to bring in somewhere between $48 to $58 million for its opening weekend domestically. But the actual numbers are looking more like $43 million. Ouch. For a movie that cost a whopping $270 million to make that's definitely not the start Disney was hoping for. Globally it's at $87.3 million which still isn't painting a rosy picture.
To put things in perspective Snow White's opening is lower than other Disney live-action remakes like The Little Mermaid Maleficent and Cinderella. It's even being compared to Dumbo another Disney remake that didn't exactly soar at the box office. And get this Snow White even got a pretty low CinemaScore from audiences a B+ which is not great for a family film like this. Critics aren't loving it either giving it a "rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Controversy Curse? Did Online Drama Doom Disney's Princess?
Let's be real Snow White has been surrounded by drama for a while now. There was backlash about casting Rachel Zegler a Latina actress as Snow White and then Gal Gadot's casting as the Evil Queen also sparked debate. Remember Peter Dinklage criticizing the portrayal of the dwarfs? Yeah it's been a bumpy ride.
Some people think Rachel Zegler's comments about the original Snow White being "dated" and her views on the prince "stalking" Snow White didn't help. Then there was online chatter about Gal Gadot's political views. Could all this controversy have actually hurt the movie's box office potential? Some experts think so suggesting it might have turned off some moviegoers before they even saw a trailer.
Fairy Tale Fatigue or Just an Old Story? Why Snow White Might Be Out of Step with Modern Audiences
Beyond the controversy there might be other reasons why Snow White is underperforming. Some analysts wonder if audiences are just tired of these live-action remakes especially of older animated films. Snow White the original cartoon is like 88 years old! Maybe younger audiences just don't connect with that classic story as much as they do with say The Little Mermaid or Aladdin which are from Disney's 90s animation boom.
Think about it. Movies like Cruella which put a fresh spin on 101 Dalmatians or even Maleficent which offered a different perspective on Sleeping Beauty seemed to do better because they weren't just straight retellings. Snow White might be seen as too traditional too old-fashioned for today's moviegoers. Even though the new movie has songs by the folks who did The Greatest Showman and a screenplay partly polished by Greta Gerwig of Barbie fame it might not be enough to overcome the source material's age.
Not All Doom and Gloom? Silver Linings for Snow White's Box Office Journey
It's not all bad news for Snow White. Some analysts point out that it is still a Disney movie and family films tend to have staying power. With not much direct competition for families coming out soon Snow White could have decent "legs" meaning it might continue to earn money over the next few weeks even if the opening was soft. Plus early audience scores are a bit better than critics scores especially with younger viewers and women. Kids under 12 apparently really liked it which could lead to families deciding to give it a chance.
Also Snow White is doing well in Latino and Hispanic markets which is a positive sign. And while the overall box office is down this year experts believe things will pick up again especially as bigger movies start releasing later in 2025. Maybe Snow White can still find its audience over time. It's not a fairy tale start but the story might not be completely over yet.
Reasons for Snow White's Box Office Disappointment: A Quick List
- Controversy surrounding casting and star comments: Negative online buzz might have deterred some viewers.
- Fairy Tale Remake Fatigue: Audiences may be tiring of live-action remakes of classic Disney animations.
- Outdated Story: The original Snow White story might not resonate with modern audiences as much as newer Disney classics.
- Low CinemaScore: A B+ CinemaScore suggests lukewarm audience reception overall.
- Competition in the Market: While limited now stronger competition might emerge later on affecting its long run.
- High Production Cost: The $270 million budget makes it harder to recoup costs with a lower opening.