Disney’s “Snow White” Remake Struggles at the Box Office
The reboot of Disney’s “Snow White” is not exactly leaving behind the legacy it hoped for. In fact, it’s turned out to be the company’s worst wide release live-action remake in nearly a decade.
Since its opening on March 21 in the US and Canada, the movie, which is a remake of the 1937 classic, has faced tough times at the box office, raking in just about $200 million globally.
To put it plainly, the film is being labeled as a “flop.” Its earnings of $205.5 million lag significantly behind its total expenses of around $410 million, which includes marketing and production costs. Analysts are referring to its dismal performance as “a financial blow”—it seems they had anticipated something this severe. The initial estimate was already pegged at more than $115 million.
In comparison, Disney’s 2016 remake of “Pete’s Dragon” earned $143.7 million, which is significantly less than what “Snow White” has brought in thus far.
There’s been plenty of buzz surrounding this remake, and not all of it has been good. Issues regarding how the classic Seven Dwarf characters were portrayed stirred conversations long before the film was even released. Actor Peter Dinklage, known for his role in “Game of Thrones,” raised concerns about the stereotypical representation of dwarfs and urged Disney to rethink it. He mentioned on a podcast that while it’s great to be progressive, the film still fell short in some areas.
Subsequently, Disney claimed it would take a “different approach” with the dwarfs, following the backlash. However, the film’s lead actress, Rachel Zegler, didn’t escape scrutiny either. After criticizing the 1937 original at a Disney event, she faced significant backlash online.
After the controversy, Disney decided to delay the release of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which was initially slated for March 2024. It seems like the performances of the cast, including Zegler’s criticisms of the original, might have played a part in the film’s current predicament.
Interestingly, Zegler has also made headlines for her outspoken views on various issues, even regarding politics. She faced backlash after mentioning online that those who supported Donald Trump “may never know peace,” which she later had to apologize for, acknowledging that hate only distanced people from understanding each other.
Moreover, it’s been noted that Disney is pulling back on the Hollywood premiere for “Snow White.” Reports suggest that the traditional red carpet event will not be as extravagant as in the past, with many media outlets reportedly absent from this scaled-down affair, focusing instead on members of the crew.
At this point, questions remain about the box office fate of “Snow White,” and while Disney was contacted for comments, there hasn’t been a response yet.
