Disney’s live-action Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, was meant to be a triumphant addition to the studio’s long line of reimagined classics. Instead, the film has become a cautionary tale of missteps, controversies, and financial disappointment. Released on March 21, 2025, the $270 million production has struggled to find its audience, culminating in a desperate Mother’s Day weekend re-release in May 2025 that failed to revive its fortunes. As of May 13, 2025, the film has grossed just $202.8 million worldwide, a far cry from the $625 million needed to break even, leaving Disney grappling with an estimated $115 million loss. The story of Snow White’s downfall is one of cultural backlash, strategic miscalculations, and a shifting landscape for Disney’s live-action remakes, with the studio’s last-ditch efforts on Mother’s Day underscoring the depth of the crisis.

From the outset, Snow White was a lightning rod for controversy. Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old Golden Globe winner who rose to fame with West Side Story, faced intense scrutiny for her casting as the titular princess. Critics on social media decried the decision to cast a Latina actress in a role historically depicted as pale-skinned, echoing the racially charged backlash seen with Halle Bailey’s casting in The Little Mermaid. Zegler’s own comments didn’t help. In a 2022 interview, she called the 1937 animated classic “dated” and “weird,” criticizing its focus on romance and expressing her intent to reframe Snow White as a leader rather than a damsel in distress. While her vision aligned with modern feminist ideals, it alienated fans of the original, who felt she was disrespecting a beloved classic. “A lot of people will assume it’s a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie,” Zegler said in an early interview, a statement that sparked outrage for its dismissive tone toward the film’s traditional narrative.

The controversies didn’t stop there. The depiction of the seven dwarfs became a flashpoint when Disney opted for CGI characters instead of casting actors with dwarfism, a decision influenced by criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, who called the original story “backwards.” While Disney consulted with the dwarfism community to avoid stereotypes, set photos revealed only one actor with dwarfism among the group, fueling accusations of performative sensitivity. Adding to the storm, Zegler’s pro-Palestine statements clashed with co-star Gal Gadot’s public support for Israel, particularly after Gadot’s comments at a 2024 Anti-Defamation League summit. This led to a ban of the film in Lebanon and boycotts by Palestinian-led movements like BDS, further polarizing audiences. The political firestorm, combined with Zegler’s outspokenness, turned Snow White into a cultural battleground, with far-right conservatives branding it “Snow Woke” and calling for boycotts after Zegler criticized President Donald Trump’s deportation policies.

When Snow White hit theaters, the backlash translated into dismal box office numbers. The film opened to $42.2 million domestically, a modest haul that paled in comparison to other Disney live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast ($174.6 million) or even Cinderella ($67.9 million). It secured the No. 1 spot for its opening weekend but quickly fell to No. 2 in its second frame, earning just $14.3 million—a staggering 66% drop, steeper than other Disney remakes like Dumbo or Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. By its fourth weekend, it had grossed $81.2 million domestically and $181 million globally, failing to hit the $200 million global milestone until late April. Critics were lukewarm, giving it a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many citing Gadot’s “flat” performance as the Evil Queen and the “artificial sheen” of the CGI dwarfs. Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore, a rare low grade for a Disney princess film, and review bombing on IMDb left it with a 1.6/10 rating, with over 91% of votes being 1-star reviews.

Disney, facing mounting losses, pulled out all the stops to salvage the film. By early May 2025, Snow White was playing in just 310 theaters, its domestic run seemingly nearing an end with a total of $86.4 million in the U.S. and $202.8 million worldwide. In a surprising move, the studio announced a theatrical re-release in over 1,200 theaters for Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-11, 2025, hoping to capitalize on the family-friendly holiday. The timing seemed strategic: Mother’s Day often sees a boost in attendance from families, and Disney likely hoped to attract mothers and daughters who had skipped the initial run. The re-release coincided with the film’s digital release announcement for May 13, suggesting a dual strategy to maximize revenue before shifting focus to streaming and home entertainment.

However, the Mother’s Day gambit fell flat. The re-release grossed a mere $335,000 over the weekend, a dismal figure that underscored the public’s lack of interest. Families opted for other options, with A Minecraft Movie, starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, dominating the box office with over $163 million domestically by that point. Social media reactions were scathing, with one user on X writing, “Disney really thought Mother’s Day would save Snow White? People aren’t showing up for Rachel Zegler’s version, period.” Another commented, “Audiences want to go to the movies—just not for this. They’re voting with their wallets.” The re-release’s failure was a stark reminder of the film’s inability to connect with its target audience, despite Disney’s hopes that a holiday centered on family bonding would provide a lifeline.

The financial toll has been severe. With a production budget of $270 million, plus $111 million in global prints and advertising and $29 million in residuals, Snow White’s total expenses reached $410 million. Against a global box office of $225 million, the film generated just $295 million in total revenue, including $101 million in film rentals, $62 million in home entertainment, and $130 million from streaming and TV. This left Disney with a $115 million loss after ancillaries, a figure that could grow as the film’s theatrical run concludes. The loss is particularly stinging given Disney’s recent successes with Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, which helped the studio surpass $5 billion in combined revenue in 2024. In contrast, 2025 has been a rocky start, with Captain America: Brave New World also underperforming.

The fallout from Snow White’s failure has broader implications for Disney’s live-action remake strategy. The studio has already put its planned Tangled remake on hold, signaling a reevaluation of the genre’s viability. While films like The Lion King and Aladdin once soared past $1 billion globally, recent remakes have struggled. The Little Mermaid (2023) grossed $560 million but was considered an underperformer, and Mufasa: The Lion King needed a holiday release to reach $717 million. Snow White’s darker, classical themes and lack of modern appeal—coupled with its controversies—made it a tougher sell, especially in a market where family audiences are increasingly selective. Some industry analysts argue that the film’s failure isn’t solely Zegler’s fault, pointing to systemic issues with Disney’s approach to remakes of older classics, which often lack the broad appeal of post-1989 musicals like The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.

For Zegler, the Snow White debacle has been a professional setback. Despite praise for her performance—critics noted her as a “bright spot” in an otherwise lackluster film—her association with the controversy has cast a shadow over her rising career. The film did push her career box office total past $700 million, making it her second-highest-grossing movie behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes ($349 million). However, with four of her films now considered box office disappointments, including West Side Story and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, some worry her future in major blockbusters could be at risk. Zegler has no announced film projects following Snow White, though she continues to shine on stage, with a recent role in Broadway’s Romeo + Juliet and an upcoming stint as Eva Perón in Evita on the West End in July 2025.

Disney’s desperate Mother’s Day re-release may have been a final attempt to salvage Snow White, but it has instead highlighted the film’s inability to resonate with audiences. As the studio shifts focus to upcoming remakes like Lilo & Stitch and Moana, the Snow White saga serves as a stark reminder of the risks of alienating fans, mishandling cultural sensitivities, and underestimating the evolving tastes of moviegoers. For now, Snow White’s fairy tale ending remains out of reach, leaving Disney to lick its wounds and reassess its approach to a once-reliable formula.