A year after the release of Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, reports indicate that the film went over its initial production budget, totaling $336.5 million. While U.S. studios generally keep financial details under wraps, the British government offers substantial tax incentives for movies shot in the UK, where Snow White was filmed. Considering the £64.9 million reimbursement from the UK, the net production cost came to about $271.6 million.
Data from Disney’s UK branch suggests that, with the regular box-office revenue split, Disney’s earnings from the film are estimated at around $102.9 million. This translates to a loss of approximately $168.7 million to $170 million. It’s worth noting that this figure doesn’t account for marketing and advertising expenses, positioning this remake as one of the most financially disappointing films in Hollywood.
Before its release, the film stirred controversy thanks to some politically charged remarks by lead actress Rachel Zegler. In November 2024, she criticized Donald Trump and expressed a wish that his supporters would “never know peace.”
“What I’m saying is, it’s not 1937 anymore,” Zegler remarked about the original animated film, implying that Snow White should be depicted as a more modern character who doesn’t rely on a prince for salvation.
During shooting, Zegler made another contentious post on social media that read, “And always remember, a free Palestine,” which generated backlash and reportedly strained her relationship with co-star Gal Gadot, who openly supports Israel.
The two actresses, whose differing views created quite a divide, were rumored to have tensions that affected their appearances during promotional events, often opting to promote the film separately.
Some analysts believe that these political issues, along with calls for boycotts from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, might have impacted how audiences received the film, and ultimately affected its box office performance.
Furthermore, extensive reshoots that added to the budget were necessary after initial public response was unfavorable. Initially, the film didn’t include the classic Seven Dwarfs and instead featured a diverse band of companions. However, following backlash regarding casting choices, Disney opted to include CGI versions of the dwarfs, which required more filming and visual effects work, further escalating costs.
Additionally, after poor audience test results, Disney added more music and re-shot scenes to enhance the love story, which also contributed to the rising expenses. In dollar terms, Snow White may be among the most significant financial disappointments, although titles like The Lone Ranger and John Carter are typically recognized as larger unadjusted failures. What sets Snow White apart is its status as one of the few major Disney Princess franchises that appears nearly guaranteed to lose money.
