Disney’s live-action Snow White remake finally debuts in theaters this weekend, but has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. With backlash over its creative choices, awkward press tour moments, and polarizing public statements by its stars, the film seems destined for a box office disappointment. And while that may sound like bad news for Disney, there are several reasons why such a failure could have positive ripple effects for both Hollywood and the legacy of filmmaking.
1. A Wake-Up Call for Respecting Classic Storytelling
The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) is a cornerstone of Disney’s legacy and cinematic history. The 2025 live-action remake takes significant liberties with the story, including reimagining Snow White as a revolutionary leader. The best thing to come out of its box office failure would be that it might finally signal to studios that audiences value faithful adaptations of beloved classics over excessive modernization or politically motivated rewrites. Preserving the integrity of timeless stories is essential to maintaining their cultural significance. Live action remakes that change the original classic, waters down the classic.
2. Encouraging Original Content
Disney has increasingly relied on live-action remakes of its animated classics, often at the expense of originality. A poor box office performance from Snow White would hopefully push the studio to return to investment in fresh, original storytelling rather than recycling old material with superficial updates or unnecessary sequels. This could reinvigorate creativity in Hollywood and inspire other studios to take risks on new ideas.
‘Snow White’ Review: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, This Remake Falls Short of Them All
3. Prioritizing Quality Over Controversy
The film’s promotional campaign has been overshadowed by controversies, including Rachel Zegler’s dismissive comments about the original film and Peter Dinklage’s critique of Disney’s portrayal of dwarfs. These distractions have detracted from the movie itself. A box office flop might remind studios that audiences prioritize quality storytelling and character development over films that rely on controversy or political correctness to generate buzz.
4. Advocating for Authentic Representation
Disney’s decision to replace live-action dwarfs with CGI characters, following Peter Dinklage’s unsolicited criticism, sparked backlash from fans and actors alike. Critics rightfully argued that this move erased opportunities for little people actors, and ultimately ended up creating unsettling CGI creations that veered into ‘uncanny valley’ territory. Its failure at the box office could encourage studios to prioritize authentic representation in future projects, ensuring diverse actors are given meaningful roles.
5. Reinforcing Professionalism in Promotion
Rachel Zegler’s press tour comments—ranging from critiques of the original Snow White to politically charged statements, from trashing the original to trashing Trump voters —alienated many fans and created unnecessary controversy. A poor reception might serve as a lesson for actors to approach promotional campaigns with professionalism and respect for the source material, especially when dealing with culturally significant properties like Snow White.
6. Balancing Nostalgia and Modernization
The attempt to modernize Snow White into some sort of revolutionary figure will ultimately fail to resonate with audiences, leaving the character feeling passive despite the intended female empowerment strategy. A box office disappointment could push filmmakers to find more thoughtful ways to balance nostalgia with contemporary values, without alienating fans of the original.
7. Holding Studios Accountable for Budget Management
With a reported budget nearing $300 million due to reshoots and CGI-heavy production, Snow White represents another example of Hollywood overspending on projects that lack clear audience demand. A financial loss could pressure studios like Disney to manage budgets more responsibly, focusing on storytelling rather than bloated spectacle.
While no studio or filmmaker sets out to create a flop, Snow White’s potential failure could serve as a much-needed course correction for Disney and Hollywood at large. It would highlight the importance of respecting classic stories, fostering originality, prioritizing quality over controversy, and making thoughtful creative decisions that resonate with audiences worldwide. Sometimes, failure isn’t just an ending—it’s an opportunity for growth.
Despite the drawbacks, Disney has a built-in, established fanbase that gobbles up almost any slop they serve up. And the nostalgia factor associated with Snow White is going to drive significant audience interest, particularly for moms and daughters. If the film somehow manages to receive positive word-of-mouth, despite a current 47% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, it could overcome any of the negative press and “controversies,” which would reinforce Disney’s strategy of remaking classic animated films. What’s next? Treasure Planet? Aristocats? A box office success here would unfortunately only encourage the studio to continue prioritizing remakes over original content, suppressing creativity in Hollywood even further.
According to the latest reporting, the movie cost an estimated $270 million, and since theaters keep half the receipts, the movie needs to make at least double that amount to break even, and that’s if they didn’t include marketing (P&A) in that estimated budget – something they rarely do. My guess is the movie needs to hit the $600 million mark globally before it starts turning a profit. Personally, I don’t think this movie is likely to hit that figure, especially after 2023’s The Little Mermaid only managed a total global box office of $570 million.
Will it have a happy ending for Disney? The film opens wide tomorrow, with previews tonight, and the trades project it to earn $50 million this weekend, so we’ll know soon enough if this will be the lesson Hollywood needs. Whether or not they heed the lesson is another matter altogether.
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English (US) · 