Disney’s latest foray into reimagining its animated classics, “Snow White,” appears to have stumbled out of the gate, garnering a modest $3.5 million in Thursday preview earnings. This tepid opening suggests a potentially challenging theatrical run for a film already steeped in pre-release controversy. The figures pale in comparison to the $10.3 million earned by the studio’s recent live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” in its preview showings.
Early projections estimate a domestic opening weekend in the vicinity of $50 million, with a total worldwide launch around $100 million. While such numbers might represent a respectable debut for some films, they carry a heavier weight for “Snow White,” which reportedly carries a substantial production cost of nearly $300 million. Should the film’s overall box office performance fall within the $400 to $600 million range, analysts suggest Disney could face a financial shortfall exceeding $150 million. The film will need to demonstrate significant staying power in theaters to achieve profitability.
Adding to the film’s challenges is a discernible chill in critical reception. The Rotten Tomatoes aggregate score has reportedly declined to a “certified rotten” 45%, indicating a predominantly negative consensus among reviewers. Early critiques have been notably harsh, with one Spanish-language review describing the film as “completely boring” and “monotonous,” further criticizing the underdevelopment of characters and the titular princess’s “ridiculous personality”.
The path to release for this iteration of “Snow White” has been far from smooth, marked by a series of controversies that have seemingly contributed to the muted initial enthusiasm. The casting of Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, in the role of Snow White, traditionally depicted as having fair skin, ignited a debate regarding representation and fidelity to the source material. Ms. Zegler’s subsequent remarks, including her description of the original animated film as “extremely dated”, and resurfaced social media posts have further fueled online discourse and drawn criticism.
Furthermore, the film’s approach to the Seven Dwarfs, opting for computer-generated imagery rather than casting little person actors, also generated discussion and, for some, disappointment. The narrative adjustments, including portraying Snow White as a more assertive figure whose name is inspired by a snowstorm rather than her complexion, have also been met with mixed reactions.
The performance of “Snow White” will be closely watched as a barometer of audience appetite for Disney’s ongoing strategy of reimagining its animated catalog. While some such ventures, like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King,” have achieved considerable commercial success, others, such as “Dumbo,” have failed to resonate with audiences. The current trajectory of “Snow White” appears more closely aligned with the latter, suggesting that modernizing beloved classics requires a delicate balance between innovation and reverence for the original material. The coming weeks will reveal whether “Snow White” can overcome its frosty start and find its audience.
