Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved fairy tale Snow White has secured the top spot at the North American box office, despite receiving mixed reviews.
Box Office Performance
During its opening weekend, the film earned approximately $87.3 million (£67.5 million) worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, with nearly half of that revenue coming from North America. However, this falls short of expectations, given the film’s reported budget of over $270 million.
The Story Behind Snow White
Initially expected to be a guaranteed hit, this modern reimagining of the 1937 animated classic faced significant controversy in the lead-up to its release. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became a focal point of social and political debates, drawing widespread discussion even before it debuted in theaters.
One major source of contention was the casting of Rachel Zegler, an actress of Colombian descent, in the role of Snow White, which sparked criticism from various groups. Additionally, backlash arose over Zegler’s pro-Palestinian remarks and pro-Israel statements made by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.
The film also ignited debate over the portrayal of the seven dwarfs, particularly regarding the use of live actors versus CGI.
Mixed Reception and Global Performance
In mainland China, Snow White failed to break into the top five at the box office, according to EntGroup’s China Box Office website. Despite the country’s vast population of over 1.4 billion, the film generated less than $1 million in its first three days in theaters.
Entertainment industry consultant Patrick Frater told the BBC, “I believe the various controversies have weakened the film’s appeal. Additionally, we’ve seen a decline in Hollywood’s popularity in Asia since the pandemic.”
Critical and Audience Reactions
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Snow White holds a disappointing critics’ score of just 44%, though audiences have been more forgiving, giving it a 73% rating on the Popcornometer.
Critics remain divided—Wendy Ide of The Observer described the film as “toe-curlingly terrible,” while David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called it “mostly captivating.” Meanwhile, Nicholas Barber of the BBC pointed out the film’s awkward CGI dwarfs and uneven tone, concluding that while it isn’t a total failure, it feels like “a mind-boggling mash-up.”
