Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White stumbled at the box office in its opening weekend, earning just $87 million globally – far below initial expectations. In the U.S., it brought in $43 million, missing its projected $50 million mark. For a film backed by the power of Disney IP and extensive marketing, this was a clear underperformance.
While some critics have pointed fingers at Disney’s efforts to modernize the classic – citing a more diverse cast and significant plot changes – box office analysts point to more traditional culprits. The film simply didn’t land creatively or emotionally with its audience, leading to lackluster word-of-mouth and uninspired ticket sales.
Rotten Tomatoes reflects this disconnect, with critics giving the film a tepid 43%, while audience scores hovered at a more generous but still modest 74%. CinemaScore landed at a B+, which may sound decent, but is underwhelming for a Disney release aimed at families. The Guardian criticized the movie as being driven more by commerce than creativity, calling it “a film made by people with cartoon dollar signs for eyes.”
This isn’t Disney’s first underperforming remake. Over the past decade, the studio has released 14 live-action adaptations, but only a few – including The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast – have crossed the billion-dollar mark. Recent offerings like The Little Mermaid have also underwhelmed at the global box office, pointing to a possible case of remake fatigue among audiences.
Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian believes Snow White was never poised for a massive debut, regardless of the controversy. “Even if you removed the backlash, the film likely wouldn’t have cracked $100 million,” he said. “It just didn’t connect.”
Still, Disney isn’t pulling back on its strategy. The studio has several high-profile sequels and remakes in the pipeline, including Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Lilo & Stitch, and the rebooted Fantastic Four. Their top-grossing films of 2024 were all sequels, reinforcing that – despite audience claims to crave originality – existing franchises remain the safest bet.
Even if Snow White falls short theatrically at the box office, Disney’s ecosystem ensures it won’t be a total loss. The movie will likely gain new life on Disney+, generate merchandising revenue, and find a place in Disney park experiences. As David A. Gross of FranchiseRe put it, “Theatrical is just the start. It’s the locomotive pulling the train, and the train is long.”
Ultimately, Snow White’s performance is a wake-up call. Disney’s challenge now is to balance nostalgia with innovation – without wearing out its own magic.
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