Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White, started on a rocky note at the box office. While it had a massive budget and hopes are high, the film has not met expectations in North America. The steep decline on its opening Monday makes its commercial prospects worse, and one cannot help but wonder if it can be maintained in the long run in theaters.
Opening Weekend Box Office Performance
Snow White opened in North America on March 21, 2025. The film, in which Snow White was played by Rachel Zegler and the Evil Queen was played by Gal Gadot, had a North American opening weekend box office of $42.2 million. While the figure looks good, it fell short of what the industry had been speculating, who had been projecting an opening of $55-$65 million on the basis of pre-release marketing and promotion by Disney.
The mixed reception from critics and lukewarm from viewers further suppressed its momentum. It had a B+ rating at CinemaScore, an indicator of modest viewer support. Simultaneous ratings at Rotten Tomatoes reported a 42% critical approval and a 74% audience rating, a reading that reflected professional and general viewer bases as distinct.
Monday Box Office Crash: A Key Warning Sign
Following a disappointing opening weekend, Snow White’s collections plummeted a whopping 74.5% on its opening Monday, raking in only $2.6 million. This drop is significantly steeper than those of similar films, including:
- Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) – $2.2 million on its opening Monday
- Dumbo (2019) – $2.9 million on its opening Monday
- Wonka (2023) – $4 million on its opening Monday
For a Disney blockbuster, this sort of steep decline so early in its run is not desirable. A weekday hold is crucial to films that risk on word-of-mouth, but Snow White seems to be doing badly in this respect.
Reasons Behind the Poor Box Office Performance
There have been various reasons behind Snow White’s poor box office performance:
1. Pre-Release Controversies
Prior to release, Snow White was widely panned as a result of alterations made to the original story and comments made by principal actress Rachel Zegler. Some audiences were dissatisfied with Disney alterations of the original fairytale, specifically with regard to the introduction of the seven dwarfs. Additionally, comments made by Zegler that the original Snow White story was outdated garnered a polarized reaction online, something that might have had an impact on audience interest.
2. Mixed Reviews and Audience Reception
Although Snow White did get a decent audience score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, the 42% critics’ score can be interpreted as lukewarm by critics. The criticisms are aimed primarily at the CGI of the film, changes in the story, and pacing, which could have deterred potential moviegoers.
3. Box Office Competition
The second strong discouragement from Snow White’s box office is competition from other movies. Wonka, which has already been released, still attracts fairly well in certain theaters. Furthermore, releases like A Minecraft Movie, which features Jason Momoa, will take over screens throughout the next few weeks and can shove Snow White further out of contention.
Worldwide Box Office: A Struggle to Reach $100 Million
So far, Snow White’s domestic cumulation stands at $44.8 million. Its overseas box office has reached $43.9 million, putting its worldwide cume at $88.6 million. This is universally disappointing for a Disney blockbuster, which was first predicted to crack more than the $100 million mark worldwide in its opening weekend out.
With its steep decline in North America and glacial pace everywhere else, Snow White will likely struggle to cross the highly coveted $100 million threshold stateside at the box office. This leaves the film in a vulnerable position, as Disney live-action remakes usually count on healthy box office to help pay back their lofty production costs.
Plagued by Comparisons with Other Disney Live-Action Movies
Disney’s record with live-action reboots has been spotty in recent years. Let’s compare Snow White to some other recent retellings:
| Film | Opening Weekend (North America) | Total Domestic Gross |
| The Lion King (2019) | $191.8 million | $543.6 million |
| Aladdin (2019) | $91.5 million | $355.5 million |
| The Little Mermaid (2023) | $95.6 million | $298.1 million |
| Dumbo (2019) | $45.9 million | $114.7 million |
| Snow White (2025) | $42.2 million | TBD |
Snow White’s box office is now lagging behind Dumbo, one of Disney’s poorer live-action franchises. At this rate, it can easily be held back under the $100 million threshold here, which would be a concerning outcome for Disney.
Will Snow White Turnaround?
It would take a several things going right if Snow White’s box office decline is to reverse:
- Strong Weekend Holds: If the movie can steady itself and drop smaller sums both in its second and third weekends, it can still pull up a respectable amount.
- International Expansion: Much of the box office money for American movies nowadays comes from abroad. If Snow White becomes a phenomenon in Asia and Europe, it can make back its North American loss.
- Hype of Streaming Release: Disney movies pick up new steam when they land on Disney+. Snow White making noise online could potentially lead to enduring profitability.
Reflections at the End: Is Disney Getting Woke-Up?
Disney’s Snow White was poised to be a box office contender, but its poor opening, huge Monday drop, and controversies have dampened its prospects. The fact that the movie could not resonate with audiences in the same way as it did for live-action reboots previously speaks volumes about Disney’s struggle to update its cartoon classics for modern audiences.
With the likes of A Minecraft Movie looming on the horizon and poor word-of-mouth stinging walk-ins, Snow White has an uphill struggle. Whether it will bounce back or keep declining is anyone’s best guess. One thing is for sure—this release will be a wake-up call for Disney to go back on its strategy concerning live-action remakes in the future.
Will Snow White’s critics be silenced, or will it become one of those forgotten gems? Only time will tell.
