Snow White's Disastrous $12 Million Opening: A New Low for Disney?

As a seasoned movie critic, I can’t help but notice the discrepancies between the hard facts and the tales spun by the mainstream Hollywood press regarding the opening day box office of “Snow White”. The numbers speak for themselves, and it seems they are telling a story different from what’s being reported.

The figures have been tallied, and they present a bleak scenario for Bob Iger following an awkward Disney shareholders meeting. The reimagined live-action version of Snow White has started poorly, raking in only $12 million on its opening day and reaching a total of $16 million when Thursday previews are included. Given that the film’s production cost Disney over $250 million before marketing expenses, this outcome can be nothing but catastrophic—and no amount of media polishing can disguise that reality.

Certainly, even though mainstream publications like Variety have tried to make the situation seem more favorable, it’s clear that they are downplaying the reality of Snow White’s box office performance. In their latest article, they audaciously declare that Snow White is “the most beautiful” in terms of box office earnings, boasting about its second-highest opening film of the year – a title that feels hollow given it’s only March… The article suggests that Snow White could potentially earn $45 million during its opening weekend, but anyone who’s been keeping track knows better. This supposed achievement is presented as an accomplishment, but it’s hard to see it that way when you look at the actual figures.

To put things into a clearer context, the movie “The Marvels,” often associated with box office disappointment, managed to earn $21.3 million on its opening day, surpassing Snow White’s initial earnings of $12 million. Interestingly, The Marvels went on to open with a total of $46 million, sparking debates about the current predicament of Marvel and Disney. However, despite the underperformance of Snow White, media outlets like Variety seem to be presenting a normal business scenario, as if everything is running smoothly.

The attempts to compare [the current situation] with the 2019 release of Dumbo become increasingly strained, as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter overlook key differences between the two films. While Dumbo made $46 million in its opening weekend, they neglect to mention that it cost less to produce – only $170 million, compared to Snow White’s budget that exceeded $250 million. Moreover, it’s important to note that Dumbo was considered a box office disappointment as well.

In addition, they draw a positive parallel with the movie “Mufasa: The Lion King”, but it’s not like that film. It started off modestly, but benefited from the Christmas season, international markets, and a longer run at the box office. On the other hand, “Snow White” doesn’t have those advantages. Its opening weekend at the box office needed to be impressive right away, and it appears it wasn’t.

When it comes to media, ratings from viewers might become the go-to option next time. Variety magazine seems excited about a B+ CinemaScore, suggesting it’s impressive, but let’s be honest. For a Disney princess movie, a B+ is average at best. Previous live-action adaptations like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin received higher grades. A B+ suggests viewers were not particularly interested in the film, rather than being excited about it. Currently, the movie has a 44% ‘rotten’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Let’s not overlook the reasons why Snow White is struggling. Missteps in public relations by Rachel Zegler, the uproar over recasting the Seven Dwarfs, and an underwhelming creative vision – all these factors have contributed significantly to this outcome. Disney’s endeavor to rework one of its timeless classics has already distanced a large portion of the fanbase prior to ticket sales.

As a movie enthusiast, I find it utterly puzzling why traditional media seems to be shielding Disney instead of acknowledging the facts. The opening weekend box office for “Snow White” is falling short on all fronts. Earning $12 million on the first day hardly qualifies as a triumph. It’s astonishing that even “The Marvels,” a film often labeled as a failure, manages to outperform this release by almost half. This suggests that audiences are losing interest in Disney’s recent productions.

No amount of glossy headlines can change the math.

2025-03-22 21:55

Snow White’s Disastrous $12 Million Opening: A New Low for Disney?

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