The remake of Snow White disappointed on its opening weekend. Taking first place at the box office was not enough to meet expectations.
A lukewarm start for Snow White: The remake of Disney’s first-ever feature-length film from 1937 earned only $43 million (around €40 million) in the U.S. on its opening weekend. While this was enough to top the North American box office, the lack of serious competition means it’s no indicator of a hit.
Even the fact that Snow White had the second-best opening of 2025—behind Captain America: Brave New World—is unlikely to comfort Walt Disney Pictures. The film’s box office performance fell short of the studio’s already conservative expectations. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney had projected an opening between $45 million and $55 million.
That puts the fairytale adaptation even behind the live-action remake of Dumbo. Tim Burton’s ill-fated 2019 reinterpretation of the 1941 classic debuted with at least $45 million.
Disney Misses Global Target Too
Worldwide, Snow White grossed $87.3 million. Germany contributed an average €1.8 million. Here, too, Disney missed its goal, which The Hollywood Reporter reported was set at $100 million. This is far too little for a production that reportedly cost at least $250 million—excluding marketing expenses.
Snow White was burdened by various controversies even before release. Conservative circles criticized the casting of Rachel Zegler, 23, as the title character, since the fairy tale describes Snow White’s skin as “white as snow.” The West Side Story actress has a Colombian mother.
Disney, however, backtracked on its initial plan to cast a diverse group as the seven dwarfs. Instead, they are now animated. This more conventional portrayal has, in turn, drawn criticism from progressive circles.
The film also became a flashpoint of controversy due to differing stances from its lead actresses on the Gaza conflict. Gal Gadot, 39, the Israeli actress portraying the Evil Queen, expressed support for her home country on social media, while Rachel Zegler posted pro-Palestinian statements.
“Mufasa” as a Model for a Turnaround
However, Snow White is not necessarily doomed. Recent history has shown that a slow-starting Disney live-action remake can recover. Mufasa, the sequel to the 2019 The Lion King remake, debuted in December 2024 with just $35 million.
But over the Christmas holidays, Mufasa gained momentum. By March 2025, the Lion King prequel had grossed over $700 million worldwide. Now, Snow White must pin its hopes on Easter.
