Snow White is facing a massive box office disaster, with Disney projected to lose millions due to its poor performance and ongoing controversies.
A costly setback for Disney
Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler, has faced multiple setbacks, leading to what is projected to be a massive financial loss.
A new report from Deadline estimates that Disney will likely lose around $115 million due to the film’s underwhelming box office performance and controversial reception.
Snow White’s struggles at the box office
The production budget for Snow White reportedly ranged between $240 million and $270 million, not including the hundreds of millions spent on marketing and promotions. However, despite Disney’s substantial investment, the film has significantly underperformed:
- Opening Weekend (Domestic): $42.2 million
- Second Weekend Drop: 66%
- Current Domestic Total: $66.9 million (after two weekends)
- Global Box Office Total: $142.7 million
These numbers fall far short of expectations, indicating that Snow White is struggling to capture audience interest.
Critical reception and audience response
The film has failed to impress critics, earning just a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are notably higher at 74%, the poor box office performance suggests mixed reception among moviegoers.
Additionally, Snow White has a dismal 1.5 rating on IMDb, one of the worst in the platform’s history.
Disney’s financial loss breakdown
Based on an estimated global revenue of $225 million ($100 million domestic, $125 million international), Snow White’s total projected earnings and expenses include:
- Revenue:
- Global Film Rentals: $101 million
- Worldwide Home Entertainment: $62 million
- Streaming and TV Revenue: $130 million
- Merchandise: $2 million
- Total Revenue: $295 million
- Expenses:
- Production Budget: $270 million
- Global Publicity & Advertising: $111 million
- Residuals & Other Costs: $29 million
- Total Expenses: $410 million
This leaves Disney with a projected $115 million loss, although future earnings from streaming on Disney+, merchandise, and theme park integration could offset some of the losses.
Controversies surrounding Rachel Zegler
The film’s struggles may also be tied to ongoing controversies involving lead actress Rachel Zegler.
Her casting was met with backlash from some fans who argued that the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale described Snow White as having “skin as white as snow.” Critics also accused Disney of prioritizing political correctness over authenticity to the source material.
Additionally, Zegler’s vocal stance on political issues, including her pro-Palestinian views, sparked further division.
Her co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, publicly supported her homeland in the ongoing conflict, adding another layer of controversy to the film’s release.
Can Snow White recover from this loss?
Despite its struggles, Disney may still see some financial recovery once Snow White hits Disney+ streaming.
If the film gains traction online, it could mitigate losses, similar to past Disney releases that underperformed in theaters but found success on digital platforms.
However, with its disappointing box office numbers, poor critic reviews, and polarizing public reception, Snow White is shaping up to be one of Disney’s most expensive failures in recent years.
The future of Disney’s live-action remakes
With Snow White failing to meet expectations, Disney may need to reconsider its approach to live-action adaptations.
The studio has seen mixed results with previous remakes, and this financial loss could influence future projects.
Whether Disney learns from this setback or continues down the same path remains to be seen.