Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Tops Box Office Despite Backlash

Disney’s live-action "Snow White" has debuted at the top of the North American box office, despite underwhelming reviews and pre-release controversies.

The film earned an estimated $87.3 million globally in its opening weekend, with nearly half $38.5 million coming from domestic ticket sales. However, the performance fell short of expectations for a movie that reportedly cost over $270 million to produce.

The remake of Disney’s 1937 animated classic was initially seen as a guaranteed success but became embroiled in cultural and political debates long before its release. Critics questioned the casting of Rachel Zegler (of Colombian descent) as Snow White, while backlash also erupted over Zegler’s pro-Palestinian statements and co-star Gal Gadot’s (who plays the Evil Queen) "pro-Israel remarks". Additionally, Disney faced scrutiny over its decision to replace the seven dwarfs with a diverse group of CGI-enhanced characters.

The film struggled in key international markets, particularly China, where it failed to crack the top five and earned less than $1 million in its first three days. Industry analyst Patrick Frater suggested that the controversies “dulled the film’s appeal”, compounded by Hollywood’s waning influence in Asia post-pandemic.

Critics were divided, with The Guardian calling it “toe-curlingly terrible”, while The Hollywood Reporter deemed it “mostly captivating”. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 44% critics score but a more favorable 73% audience rating. Despite its flaws, Snow White managed to outperform.