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Disney’s live-action Snow White remake has underperformed at the box office due to controversies surrounding casting decisions, creative choices, and political tensions. The film opened to a disappointing $43 million domestically, trailing even 2019’s Dumbo in debut earnings. Key factors contributing to its struggles include:
Rachel Zegler’s role as Snow White drew criticism from conservatives like Ben Shapiro, who argued the character’s name and fairy tale description (“skin as white as snow”) necessitated a white actress. This debate intensified after leaked set photos and Zegler’s public criticisms of the original film’s “dated” love story. The Daily Wire capitalized on this controversy by producing a rival Snow White film starring a white actress.
Disney replaced the seven dwarfs with CGI characters after Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage criticized the story as “backwards,” claiming this erased opportunities for actors with dwarfism. David Hale Hand, son of the original film’s supervising director, called the remake a “disgrace” for abandoning the source material’s legacy.
The film became entangled in Israel-Hamas war divisions. Gal Gadot (Evil Queen) made pro-Israel statements, while Zegler posted “Free Palestine” on social media. Protesters clashed at Gadot’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony days before the premiere.
Critics panned Disney’s live-action strategy as “soulless cash grabs,” with Snow White seen as stripping expressiveness from the original story. The studio’s decision to avoid journalists at the March 15 premiere further limited promotional opportunities.
The combined effect of these controversies alienated both traditional Disney fans and newer audiences, resulting in weak box office returns despite a $250 million budget. The film’s struggles reflect growing public skepticism toward Hollywood’s remake culture and sensitivity to culture war battles.
