Disney’s “Snow White” Remake a Financial Disappointment After Politicized Production
A year after its release, Disney’s 2025 live-action “Snow White” remake is being called a major financial failure. The film, plagued by controversy and burdened with a ballooning budget, reportedly cost $336.5 million to produce. Even after a tax reimbursement from the United Kingdom, where it was filmed, the net production cost remained a staggering $271.6 million, according to financial analysts.
After theaters take their share, Disney’s earnings from the movie are estimated to be around $102.9 million. This leaves the company with a loss of roughly $170 million, without even factoring in the costs of marketing and advertising. This makes the “Snow White” remake one of the biggest financial missteps in recent Hollywood history.
The film was surrounded by controversy even before its release, largely due to statements made by the lead actress, Rachel Zegler. In the past, Zegler made public comments critical of conservative values and expressed opinions on divisive political issues. These statements sparked debate and calls for boycotts, potentially influencing the audience’s perception of the movie.
Before filming began, Zegler also voiced criticisms of the original 1937 animated “Snow White,” dismissing the traditional role of the prince. She suggested the remake would portray Snow White as a leader, not someone waiting for rescue by a prince. This direction signaled a departure from the classic story that many hold dear.
During production, further controversy arose when Zegler made comments on social media regarding international affairs. This reportedly created tension with her co-star, Gal Gadot, due to their differing views on these matters. Reports suggest the actresses had little in common, with their political disagreements creating strains. This may have influenced the separate promotional campaigns they undertook for the film.
Some observers believe that these pre-release controversies, combined with politically motivated calls for boycotts, contributed to a divided audience and impacted the film’s box-office performance. This suggests that injecting divisive political issues into entertainment can alienate a significant portion of the audience.
In addition to the political controversies, the film’s budget was significantly impacted by extensive reshoots. Originally, the film did not include the traditional seven dwarfs, opting instead for a group of “diverse bandits.” However, after public criticism, Disney reversed course and added the dwarfs back in using CGI, requiring substantial additional filming and visual effects work.
Following poor reviews from early audiences, Disney also added more songs and reshot scenes to strengthen the love story. These changes further increased the production costs.
While other films have experienced significant financial losses, “Snow White” stands out as a unique case. As a well-known Disney Princess story, it was expected to be a guaranteed success. However, it seems that straying too far from the original story, coupled with the politicized atmosphere surrounding the production, may have contributed to its downfall. This serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks of injecting political agendas into classic stories and the importance of staying true to the values that resonate with a broad audience.
