Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has proven to be one of the studio’s most significant box office disappointments in recent history. The rapid closure of its theatrical run signals a significant miscalculation in Disney’s approach to reinventing one of its most beloved properties. How much did Rachel Zegler contribute to the film’s flop?
A Financial Fairy Tale Gone Wrong
Disney’s Snow White remake, released on March 19, ended its theatrical run by late April with catastrophic financial results for the entertainment giant. The film grossed approximately $195.2 million worldwide against a staggering production budget of between $250-270 million and an additional $140 million spent on marketing and distribution costs.
Industry analysts calculated that Snow White needed to earn at least $427 million globally just to break even, leaving the production with a shortfall of over $230 million. Some reports suggest the actual production costs may have ballooned even higher, potentially reaching $350 million, which would raise the break-even threshold to an astronomical $700 million.
Woke Garbage "Snow White" is a flop.
Snow White has received one of the worst Rotten Tomatoes scores of any live-action Disney film in history.
But Do not feel bad for SNOW WHITE. She hates you all. pic.twitter.com/S1GJYQ8vg9
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) March 22, 2025
Controversy Before the First Screening
The film’s problems began long before its release, with lead actress Rachel Zegler creating controversy through public statements criticizing the original 1937 animated classic. In interviews, Zegler described the prince in the original film as a “stalker” and labeled the story’s themes as “weird,” while promising a feminist reimagining that would drastically depart from the beloved source material.
These comments sparked immediate backlash from fans who felt the actress was dismissive of a treasured cultural landmark in animation history. Actor Jonah Platt publicly called Zegler’s behavior “immature” and “narcissistic,” reflecting broader criticism that Disney was alienating its core audience by appearing to reject the very elements that made the original film successful.
Box Office Collapse and Financial Aftermath
The film’s opening weekend foreshadowed its eventual failure, earning just $43 million domestically and $44 million internationally for a combined $87 million debut. More concerning was its rapid decline in subsequent weekends, with Snow White being outperformed by smaller-budget films, including “A Working Man” and “The Chosen: Last Supper.”
Financial experts now project the film will result in a loss of approximately $115 million for Disney, though some industry insiders suggest the total damage could approach a quarter of a billion dollars. This positions Snow White among the most significant box office disappointments in recent Hollywood history, especially considering the powerful Disney marketing machine behind it.
The film’s failure adds to Disney’s recent struggles with theatrical releases and raises questions about the studio’s strategy of remaking classic animated properties. With the rapid end to its theatrical run and underwhelming financial performance, Snow White represents a costly lesson in the risks of reinventing beloved stories without maintaining the elements that made them classics in the first place.