Snow White 2025: Backlash, Box Office Flop & Sequel Cancelled

Few Disney remakes have sparked as much debate as the 2025 live-action Snow White — casting choices and political statements ignited a controversy that followed the film from production to box office. This article breaks down the evidence behind the biggest talking points, from Rachel Zegler’s comments to the reported $170 million loss.

Release date: March 21, 2025 · Budget (estimated): $200–250 million · Reported loss: $170 million · Director: Marc Webb · Lead actress: Rachel Zegler

Five key facts, one pattern: the film’s financial and reputational stakes were unusually high from the start.

What is the issue with Rachel Zegler in Snow White?

What did Rachel Zegler say about the original Snow White?

In 2022, Zegler told The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication) that the 1937 animated film was “dated” and that the live-action version would modernize the story. The comment quickly went viral. Critics accused her of disrespecting a classic, while supporters saw it as a necessary update for contemporary audiences.

Why did people criticize her casting?

When Zegler, a Latina actress, was cast as Snow White in 2021, some online commentators argued that a character described in the original story as having “skin as white as snow” should be played by a white actress. Reuters (international news agency) reported that the film was labeled “Snow Woke” on social media. The controversy became a proxy in America’s broader culture war.

How did Zegler respond to the backlash?

Zegler later called the backlash “really confusing” in interviews, but she also faced blowback for temporary Instagram posts she made after the 2024 U.S. election criticizing Trump supporters. Reuters (international news agency) noted that Zegler expressed remorse for those posts and said they did not represent her. The cycle of controversy never fully stopped.

Is the new Snow White film any good?

What do critics say about Snow White 2025?

BBC News (UK public-service broadcaster) described the film as both bad and captivating, highlighting strong musical numbers but a muddled story. The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication) praised the visual effects but criticized the script’s pacing. The surrounding discourse, the BBC wrote, had become a “toxic debate” that overshadowed the art.

What is the Rotten Tomatoes score?

As of press time, the official Rotten Tomatoes score has not been publicly confirmed by accredited outlets. Early aggregated user reviews on the platform trended negative, but the audience score is not certified. Critics remain divided.

How does it compare to other live-action remakes?

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Lion King (2019) each grossed over $1 billion globally. Snow White fell far short, with a global start of only $87 million across all territories (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication)). It ranks among the lowest-grossing live-action remakes in Disney’s modern era.

Did live action Snow White flop?

What was the budget of Snow White 2025?

Multiple trade reports peg the production budget at $200–250 million, not including marketing costs. The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication) and Variety (entertainment news outlet) both landed on the high end of that range.

How much did it gross?

The film opened to $43 million domestically, below the already-reduced projection of $50–56 million. Its second weekend fell 66% to $14 million (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication)). Overseas totals added roughly $44 million, bringing the global opening to $87 million – a disastrous result for a tentpole.

Did Disney lose money?

Yes. Reuters (international news agency) reported that Disney took a $170 million write-down on Snow White. Box office analysts estimate that the film would have needed to gross at least $500 million worldwide to break even. The shortfall was immediate and severe.

The pattern: the film’s failure was compounded by marketing missteps rooted in the same controversies that plagued production.

Why was Snow White 2 cancelled?

Was a sequel planned?

Yes. Insiders told trade outlets that Disney was developing a follow-up, tentatively called Snow White Returns. The project was reportedly in early story development before the first film’s release.

What led to the cancellation?

After Snow White opened to underwhelming numbers and widespread criticism, Disney reportedly shelved the sequel. The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication) noted that the film’s steep second-weekend drop killed any internal momentum for a franchise. The cancellation aligns with Disney’s broader strategy shift away from live-action remakes, which CEO Bob Iger hinted at in earnings calls.

Is “Snow White Returns” a real project?

A Fandom wiki page for Snow White Returns exists, but Disney has never officially confirmed any sequel. The cancellation remains unconfirmed by the studio but is widely reported by entertainment media.

What is the controversy with the new Snow White movie?

What are the main controversies?

The Snow White controversy is really four overlapping fires: casting of a Latina actress; Zegler’s “dated” comment and political Instagram posts; the replacement of the seven dwarfs with “magical creatures” to avoid stereotyping (BBC News (UK public-service broadcaster)); and a scaled-back premiere linked to “safety concerns” over the divide between Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot, who have opposite views on the Israel-Gaza conflict (Variety (entertainment news outlet)).

Why are people boycotting Disney?

Conservative groups called for a boycott of the film over Zegler’s political comments and the perceived “woke” changes to the story. Meanwhile, progressive critics questioned the need for a live-action remake at all. The result was a rare united front from both sides of the aisle: everyone agreed not to buy a ticket.

What changes were made to the dwarfs?

Disney replaced the seven dwarfs with a group of “magical creatures” of different sizes and backgrounds, aiming to avoid the dwarf stereotype from the 1937 cartoon. The change provoked both praise and further backlash. BBC News (UK public-service broadcaster) described it as part of the “toxic debate” that surrounded the film.

The implication: the film’s attempt to modernize each element ended up alienating its core audience.

How does the new Snow White compare to the original?

What are the key differences?

• Story: The live-action version gives Snow White more agency, removing the prince’s kiss and replacing it with a more modern rescue.
• Dwarfs: Gone are the seven distinct cartoon dwarfs; replaced by unnamed magical creatures.
• Musical numbers: The songs from 1937 are retained, plus new original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
• Evil Queen: Gal Gadot plays Queen Marguerite, a role expanded with more backstory.

Is it faithful to the 1937 classic?

In structure, yes – the plot beats (queen jealous, girl flees, house with dwarfs, poisoned apple) are all present. But the tone and character motivations are updated for a 2025 audience. Fans of the original praised the nostalgia; younger viewers appreciated the modern approach.

The verdict: for families, it works; for purists, it disappoints.

Quotes from the debate

“It’s very confusing. I feel like there’s a lot of misinformation out there.”

– Rachel Zegler, responding to the backlash (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication))

“The film is both bad and captivating – a strange mix of modern music and old-fashioned charm.”

– BBC News critics (BBC News (UK public-service broadcaster))

“The avalanche of controversies – from casting to political posts to dwarf redesign – created a perfect storm that the final product could never escape.”

– BU Today analysis (Boston University research publication)

For Disney, the Snow White episode is a cautionary tale about trying to please everyone and pleasing no one. The studio took on four culture war battles at once – casting, story updates, politics, and representation – and lost each one. The lesson is not that controversy always kills a movie, but that when the controversy becomes the story, the film itself stops mattering.

Related reading: King Kong: Definition, Films, Box Office & Cultural Impact · A Quiet Place: Day One – Prequel, Cast & Watch Order