Disney’s new “Snow White” remake stumbled out of the gate this weekend, pulling in just $45 million at the box office. The movie cost a whopping $250 million to make, not including advertising. Fans didn’t rush to theaters, and critics say the film’s “woke” changes turned people off. Instead of sticking to the classic story, Disney made Snow White a “leader” instead of a princess dreaming of true love.
The lead actress, Rachel Zegler, sparked backlash by criticizing the original tale. She said Prince Charming was a “stalker” and claimed the remake would “fix” outdated ideas. Conservative audiences saw this as another example of Hollywood pushing politics into family entertainment. The backlash grew when Disney replaced the seven dwarfs with CGI creatures, ignoring concerns from some in the dwarfism community.
Disney tried to defend the changes, saying they wanted to avoid stereotypes. But the movie’s messy plot and awkward updates left many viewers bored. Early reviews called it “passionless” and “mediocre.” Even Disney fans gave it a lukewarm B+ rating, the lowest ever for one of their live-action remakes.
The film’s poor start puts Disney in a tough spot. It needs to make over $600 million globally just to break even. That seems unlikely now. Compare that to older remakes like “Beauty and the Beast” or “The Lion King,” which earned over $1 billion. Disney’s obsession with remakes—and rewriting its own classics—is starting to backfire.
Some analysts say the studio’s focus on politics over storytelling is alienating families. Parents want clean, fun movies, not lectures. The original 1937 “Snow White” was beloved for its charm and simplicity. The new version feels like a checklist of modern talking points instead of a timeless fairy tale.
The box office failure adds to Disney’s recent struggles. Other woke projects like “The Little Mermaid” remake also underperformed last year. Even with spring break around the corner, “Snow White” faces an uphill battle. Families might choose older classics over this confusing reboot.
Disney has relied on live-action remakes to boost its brand for years. But this latest flop shows audiences are tired of the same old tricks. Fans want original stories, not recycled plots with forced messages. The company’s stock has dipped recently, and this won’t help.
In the end, “Snow White” proves that messing with classics doesn’t pay. Hollywood’s rush to “update” stories often ruins what made them special. Families vote with their wallets, and this weekend, they voted no. Disney should listen before its magic runs out completely.
