Just when it seemed like Disney’s Snow White couldn’t sink any lower, the final opening weekend box office numbers are in—and they’re somehow even worse than early projections suggested.
Heading into the weekend, the narrative around Snow White was already dire. Analysts predicted a soft opening somewhere in the range of $45 million domestically. As of Sunday, the weekend box office was projected at $43 million. Even those modest expectations reflected serious trouble, making it one of the weakest debuts for any of Disney’s live-action remakes.
A leaked photo from the set of Snow White showing the dwarfs as diverse actors of various sizes – YouTube, The Critical Drinker
But now, final box office tallies show that Snow White didn’t even clear that already dismal bar. The official domestic opening figure?
$42.2 million.
That’s right—worse than even the conservative estimates that had media outlets scrambling to justify Disney’s latest misfire. Global numbers came in at approximately $87.3 million, far below the $100 million global benchmark that was initially floated.
To put it bluntly: it’s a bloodbath.
How Bad Is the Snow White Opening Weekend Box Office? Let’s Recap
The film had a production budget reported at $250–270 million, before marketing costs.
It pulled in a domestic opening of $42.2 million, one of the lowest debuts for any Disney live-action remake.
The dislike ratio for the Snow White trailer as of 02/03/25
The global total came in at $87.3 million worldwide after a dismal overseas rollout.
This puts Snow White behind even 2019’s Dumbo, which opened to $45 million domestically and was widely considered a financial disappointment.
And just for a little extra sting, remember that The Marvels—another box office failure heavily scrutinized by the press—managed a $46 million domestic opening. That means Snow White underperformed even relative to that notoriously troubled release, despite having one of the most recognizable Disney brands in its corner.
Media Spin Can’t Save This One
Legacy media outlets like Deadline and Variety initially tried to spin the situation. Articles mentioned how Snow White was the “fairest of them all” on box office charts that weekend, or attempted to compare the film’s opening to Mufasa: The Lion King, hinting that maybe long legs could save it.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
But with these revised numbers now public, the spin machine is running out of steam. No amount of CinemaScore scores or comparisons to other underperformers can hide the reality. Audiences simply didn’t show up, and no holiday corridor or lack of family competition is likely to turn the tide.
A Symptom of Larger Issues
It’s also worth noting that this isn’t just about one bad weekend. Disney poured hundreds of millions into this film, banking on brand nostalgia, modern reimagining, and their usual live-action formula to carry the day.
Instead, they’ve been met with universal rejection—from both sides of the political aisle. Even Deadline’s own data shows Snow White performed evenly across Red and Blue states, eliminating the notion that backlash was exclusively political.
At the core, it’s about audiences rejecting Disney’s creative choices, coupled with months of bad press thanks to Rachel Zegler’s repeated PR disasters, expensive reshoots, and a marketing strategy that seemed more focused on damage control than building excitement.
Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action SNOW WHITE. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If Disney thought they could soften the blow with clever spin or optimistic projections, this final tally proves otherwise. What was already bad is now undeniably worse. Snow White has officially joined the ranks of Disney’s most costly opening box office disasters—and no amount of magic mirrors or media narratives can hide it.
