Snow White Flops: Disney’s Worst Live-Action Remake Ever

Disney’s latest live-action movie, Snow White, has not fared well at the box office during its opening weekend, earning only $43 million in domestic sales and $87.3 million worldwide. Even reputable industry sources like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter can no longer present this performance as a success.

Both versions convey the same information but aim for a more natural and easy-to-read style while keeping the formal tone appropriate for discussing box office performances.

To put it simply: This isn’t just a minor setback; it’s an unmitigated catastrophe, given that the movie has a production budget exceeding $250 million, not including its substantial marketing costs. Initially, analysts had projected domestic earnings surpassing $50 million, with even the lowest predictions hovering around $45–55 million. However, Snow White failed to rise above the lowest expectations.

Despite attempting to maintain a strong stance, Variety found it challenging to declare “Snow White” as the top box office contender, noticeably lacking the typical enthusiasm. Instead, the numbers themselves carried a more resonant voice—this marked the smallest opening of any Disney live-action remake yet, even dipping below the notorious failure that was “Dumbo,” which debuted at $45 million without accounting for inflation.

Even a publication like The Hollywood Reporter, known for its favorable coverage towards Disney, couldn’t help but acknowledge the significant issues this outcome presents. In fact, their article openly admits that Snow White opened below expectations, using terms such as “trouble” to describe its performance and confirming it underperformed compared to even Dumbo’s disappointing start. No amount of positive spin could mask these facts.

Without forgetting the controversial Marvel film titled “The Marvels“, it kicked off with a domestic weekend earning $46 million and a worldwide total of $110 million. This movie was swiftly labeled as a flop, sparking numerous articles dissecting franchise exhaustion and Disney’s creative challenges. Interestingly, the recent release of “Snow White” has fared even worse, leaving the media scrambling for explanations.

I tried to steer the discussion towards the film’s potential longevality, referencing how movies like Mufasa: The Lion King started slowly but eventually became successful. However, unlike Mufasa which was released during the busy Christmas season, Snow White is not. There’s no holiday boost, and it seems that the audience’s excitement just isn’t as high for this film.

The backup defense, viewer ratings, seems unconvincing. A B+ from CinemaScore could be acceptable, but for a Disney princess movie, it’s merely average. Contrast that with previous live-action adaptations like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, which debuted over $100 million and received stronger A-level CinemaScores. This is a noticeable decline in quality.

It’s quite striking that even Variety and THR can’t ignore the elephant in the room – the ongoing controversies, costly reshoots, and the backlash faced by lead actress Rachel Zegler due to her multiple missteps. Both publications point out that the film has been “plagued with controversy” and hint at Disney reducing its premiere event’s scale, but there’s a noticeable change in tone – less dismissive gestures, more subdued acceptance that attempts to manage the situation have failed.

After the closing of the day’s screenings, the initial earnings from “Snow White” clearly demonstrate what many have long suspected: viewers aren’t purchasing Disney’s recent retelling, regardless of how many times the media attempts to rebrand it. This isn’t simply a poor weekend performance—it’s an undeniable sign that Disney’s formula is losing its appeal, and no amount of traditional media coverage can reverse this trend.

2025-03-24 14:54

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