Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Despite being based on one of the most beloved fairy tales in history, the film’s box office performance has been lackluster, sparking concern within Disney’s ranks. With a production budget that topped $300 million, the live-action Snow White needs to gross nearly half a billion dollars just to break even. But with just over $100 million in global earnings so far, the road to profitability is looking steep. Here’s what Snow White needs to make at the box office to turn its financial fate around.
The Expensive Road to Production
From the outset, Snow White faced a challenging production journey. The film experienced multiple delays, including a two-year setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When filming finally resumed in 2022, it wasn’t long before controversy surrounding the film’s direction began to stir the pot.
Rachel Zegler, the actress portraying Snow White, made headlines with her comments about the original 1937 animated classic. She criticized Prince Charming’s behavior, calling it “stalker-like,” and described the film’s outdated portrayal of women in power. These comments sparked backlash from critics, including David Hand, whose father had worked on the original animated film. Hand claimed that the creators of the remake would be “turning in their graves” over the new version of the beloved story.
Adding to the controversy was the debut of the film’s computer-generated dwarves, which many fans found unsettling and far removed from the cute, charming characters in the original. This led to the Snow White trailer becoming one of the most disliked film teasers on YouTube, garnering nearly a million dislikes compared to just 68,000 likes.
Political Controversy and Production Turmoil
The drama surrounding Snow White didn’t end there. Zegler’s political views took center stage when she posted a comment about “Free Palestine” on social media, which led to further scrutiny. The film’s producer, Marc Platt, reportedly flew to New York to convince Zegler to remove the post, but she refused. This sparked a public spat, with Platt’s son, actor Jonah Platt, later defending his father’s attempts to keep the film’s promotion free from political controversy. However, the damage had been done, and many fans felt the political storm surrounding the film distracted from its marketing efforts.
Despite all the drama, the film opened to disappointing box office results. Snow White made $87.3 million in its opening weekend, which was 13% less than what analysts had forecast. By its second weekend, Snow White was expected to see a staggering 68% drop in earnings, with just $13.7 million projected in sales, falling behind Jason Statham’s action-thriller A Working Man.
How Much Does Snow White Need to Make to Break Even?
The road to breaking even is looking increasingly difficult for Snow White. According to industry insiders, the film’s production cost was a hefty $300 million, which includes a reimbursement of $55.5 million from the UK government’s fiscal incentives scheme. However, the total figure of $300 million does not account for marketing costs, which are often a substantial part of a film’s expenses.
Assuming a 50-50 split between the studio and theaters (as is typical in the industry), Disney would need Snow White to gross at least $427.8 million worldwide to cover the cost of production and break even. With only $100.2 million in global earnings so far, the film has a long way to go before it reaches that target.
This is particularly worrying given that Snow White is facing stiff competition at the box office, and its lukewarm reception from critics, with a 41% score on Rotten Tomatoes, has only added fuel to the fire. Audience reactions have been slightly more favorable, with a 73% score, but the divide between critical reception and audience opinion indicates the film is struggling to capture widespread appeal.
The Challenge of Remaking a Classic
Snow White highlights the risks associated with remaking animated classics. Disney’s challenge lies in balancing the nostalgia of the original with modern sensibilities. A remake that is too faithful to the source material risks feeling lazy and unnecessary, while one that strays too far from the original can alienate long-time fans.
In the case of Snow White, it seems that the film has struggled to find that balance. The controversies surrounding the casting, the CGI dwarves, and Zegler’s comments have overshadowed the film’s release, contributing to its lackluster box office performance. Disney’s financial gamble with a $300 million budget may not pay off if the film fails to captivate audiences and draw in viewers beyond its core fanbase.
What’s Next for Disney?
While Snow White struggles at the box office, Disney isn’t giving up on its live-action remakes. Just days before the release of Snow White, Disney dropped the first trailer for another live-action remake—Lilo & Stitch. Unlike Snow White, the Lilo & Stitch trailer was well-received, and Disney is hoping that this film will see better financial results.
The success of Lilo & Stitch could be crucial for Disney’s bottom line, especially if Snow White doesn’t meet its financial expectations. As the studio continues to take risks with its live-action adaptations, all eyes will be on Lilo & Stitch to see if it can reverse Disney’s fortunes in the wake of Snow White‘s disappointing performance.