Snow White Falls to 4th as Minecraft Dominates the Box Office

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Following two turbulent weekends at the box office, Disney’s reimagined Snow White is now predicted to exit the top 3 entirely, finishing in a disappointing fourth position. This unfortunate placement occurs as Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie gears up to rule the upcoming weekend.

According to industry predictions on April 3, the video game adaptation “Minecraft” is expected to smash its way to a record-breaking $100 million opening in the U.S., far surpassing initial expectations that placed it around $50-$60 million. This is quite the turnaround given the scathing reviews it has received, with critics labeling it as the “worst film of 2025 thus far” and a “creative catastrophe.” However, it seems that audiences at large are unfazed by these negative assessments.

Currently, Snow White is experiencing a potential decline in viewings during its third weekend. This drop might cause it to fall below not only Minecraft but also Jason Statham’s action film, A Working Man, and the faith-based series The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2 as well.

Here’s how the current top five is projected to shake out:

1. The Movie Based on Minecraft – Earnings: $92.5M

2. A Film About a Hardworking Person – Budget: $8.0M

3. The Sequel of The Chosen: Last Supper (Part 2) – Budget: $7.8M

4. Snow White Movie – Budget: $6.7M

5. Part 1 of The Chosen: Last Supper – Budget: $5.2M

This is potentially disastrous for Disney. With an opening weekend gross of only $42.2 million, which falls short of their usual success with live-action remakes, “Snow White” has already raised concerns. The 66% drop in its second weekend was significant, but the current third-weekend decline could relegate it to box office insignificance at an alarmingly rapid pace compared to initial expectations. Currently, the film has amassed a domestic total of only $69 million over ten days.

As a movie critic, I find myself questioning whether Snow White can maintain its position among the box office top 3 films. It seems that it might struggle to surpass the $100 million domestic mark, joining the likes of Dumbo and The Little Mermaid as Disney remakes falling short of rekindling the enchantment of their original counterparts. However, unlike those two, Snow White carries a heftier production cost and appears to have less public goodwill to its name.

The Fallout of a Failed Fairytale

In recent times, Disney has faced cultural opposition on multiple fronts, yet none more contentious than the remake of “Snow White”. The movie’s controversies predate its premiere, with past interviews of the lead actress, Rachel Zegler, re-emerging and stirring internet fury. Her offhand remarks about the 1937 original film and its romantic aspects ignited a wave of criticism. Add to this a CGI-centric production and what many perceived as an overly contemporary style, and the movie faced challenges even before it premiered in cinemas.

Later on, there were assessments of the movie. Critics gave it mediocre ratings at best, and the public attendance didn’t meet Disney’s expectations. Consequently, this led to a significant setback for a company that was previously thought unbeatable in transforming animated masterpieces into successful live-action adaptations.

Currently, after only two weekends, the movie adaptation of Snow White is being overtaken in reviews by a video game adaptation, but it boasts a more devoted fanbase.

Minecraft: A Pixelated Powerhouse

It’s important not to overstate that a Minecraft Movie is destined to be the next great cinematic work. Critics have been quite harsh in their reviews, labeling it as “incoherent” and “overly loud.” However, it seems the general public isn’t bothered by these criticisms. Given its dedicated fanbase from the most popular video game worldwide, this film caters to an audience craving family-friendly escapades. What’s more, it’s launching at an ideal moment, coinciding with spring breaks nationwide.

The star-studded cast featuring Jason Momoa and Jack Black is a major attraction, and the promotion has been spot-on. Despite negative reviews from critics, it’s anticipated that families will flock to see Minecraft in cinemas this weekend, making it the standout theatrical hit of the year so far, even if its popularity wanes in coming weeks.

The Rise of The Chosen—and the Shift in Audience Tastes

Meanwhile, this weekend is seeing the surge of “The Chosen” series. The faith-centric drama, distributed by Fathom Events and relying on a word-of-mouth marketing strategy, has consistently exceeded expectations. The first part grossed an unexpected $11.7 million last week, and now the second part is expected to maintain its strength with another estimated $7.8 million.

That means The Chosen could do what Snow White can’t: sustain interest.

Through positive word-of-mouth and backing from spiritual communities, the show “The Chosen” demonstrates that there’s an expanding demand for content grounded in values. On the other hand, Disney appears to be drifting away from connecting with their conventional family audience.

A Disney Wake-Up Call?

The studio might have thought that relying on nostalgia and well-known brands like Snow White would ensure success, but it seems audiences are demanding more. With recent films such as The Marvels, Wish, and now Snow White, Disney has been producing a series of disappointments where victories were expected. And with the upcoming controversial remake of Moana, it appears that the studio’s persistent use of familiar patterns could soon reach its limit.

Currently, Snow White is hobbling towards the $70 million threshold, with a strong possibility of being outshone by Minecraft’s pixel-driven titan. If things don’t alter quickly, Disney might find themselves learning another expensive lesson: people prefer engaging content rather than lessons disguised as fairy tales.

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2025-04-03 20:55