Disney’s decision to re-release its live-action Snow White remake, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, over Mother’s Day weekend in 2025 was a bold gamble that ended in spectacular failure. The film, already labeled a box office bomb after its initial theatrical run, was brought back to over 1,330 theaters across the United States, presumably to capitalize on the family-oriented holiday. However, the move backfired disastrously, with the re-release grossing a mere $335,000 over the weekend, averaging roughly 17 tickets sold per theater. This catastrophic performance not only deepened Disney’s financial losses but also underscored the ongoing challenges facing the studio’s live-action remake strategy and its handling of controversial star Rachel Zegler.
A Troubled Production from the Start
The 2025 Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and produced by Marc Platt, was a reimagining of Disney’s 1937 animated classic, itself based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The film starred Rachel Zegler as a modernized Snow White, who shifts from a damsel dreaming of love to a leader fighting to liberate her kingdom from her stepmother, the Evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot. The cast also included Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, a new love interest, and a group of CGI-rendered “magical characters” replacing the traditional Seven Dwarfs. With a reported production budget of $270 million—excluding an estimated $100 million in marketing costs—the film was a high-stakes endeavor for Disney, banking on the success of its earlier live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
However, Snow White faced turbulence long before its March 21, 2025, premiere. The project was mired in controversy, starting with Zegler’s casting as the titular princess. Some fans criticized the choice of a Latina actress for a character historically depicted as pale-skinned, echoing backlash seen with Halle Bailey’s casting in The Little Mermaid. Zegler’s public comments further fueled the fire. In a 2022 interview, she called the original 1937 film “dated” and “weird,” dismissing its romantic elements and emphasizing the remake’s feminist reimagining. These remarks alienated fans of the classic, who felt the new version disrespected Disney’s legacy.
Additional controversies piled on. The decision to use CGI for the Seven Dwarfs, prompted partly by actor Peter Dinklage’s criticism of casting dwarf actors in stereotypical roles, drew accusations of sidestepping authentic representation. The film also faced geopolitical backlash: Lebanon banned it due to Gadot’s public support for Israel, and pro-Palestinian groups called for boycotts, contrasting with Zegler’s vocal pro-Palestine stance. Behind the scenes, tensions reportedly simmered between Zegler and Gadot, with Disney intervening to manage Zegler’s social media activity after posts like “free Palestine” and inflammatory comments about President Donald Trump and his supporters sparked outrage.
Initial Box Office Woes
When Snow White debuted in March 2025, it opened to a disappointing $42.2 million domestically and $87.3 million worldwide, far below expectations for a film of its budget. By comparison, The Little Mermaid (2023) earned $95 million domestically in its opening weekend with a similar $240 million budget. Snow White’s global tally eventually stalled at $202.8 million, with $86.4 million from the U.S. and $116.3 million internationally, falling short of the $500 million needed to break even. Analysts estimated losses of at least $115 million after home entertainment and streaming revenues, with some projections suggesting up to $300 million in red ink.
Critical reception was lukewarm, with a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score and a B+ CinemaScore, unusually low for a Disney remake. Critics praised Zegler’s luminous performance but criticized Gadot’s flat portrayal of the Evil Queen, the uncanny CGI dwarfs, and the film’s “clumsy” modernization. Audience sentiment was mixed, with a 72% Popcornmeter score but a record-low 1.6/10 on IMDb, marred by review-bombing from detractors. Social media posts on X reflected harsh sentiment, with users mocking Zegler’s earlier claim that “people will wait in line” to see her films, pointing to empty theaters as evidence of her miscalculation.
The Mother’s Day Re-Release Gamble
By May 2025, Snow White was limping along in just 310 theaters, its theatrical run nearing its end. Disney’s decision to re-release it in 1,330 theaters for Mother’s Day weekend was a puzzling move, likely banking on the holiday’s appeal to families and mothers with young daughters. The studio may have hoped the film’s themes of female empowerment and family bonds would resonate, especially with its digital release scheduled for May 13, followed by 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on June 24. Some speculated Disney aimed to boost the film’s visibility before its streaming debut on Disney+, where it could potentially find a second life.
Yet the re-release was a resounding flop. Earning just $335,000 over the weekend, the film averaged a paltry $252 per theater, translating to roughly 17 tickets sold per venue at an estimated $15 per ticket. This dismal performance stood in stark contrast to Disney’s earlier re-release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith for its 20th anniversary, which grossed $55 million worldwide. The Snow White re-release failed to move the needle on its domestic total, which remained stuck at $86.5 million. Social media buzz on X was scathing, with users labeling the re-release “embarrassing” and questioning Disney’s strategy.
Why Did It Fail?
Several factors contributed to the re-release’s failure. First, the film’s initial poor performance and toxic word-of-mouth likely deterred audiences from giving it another chance. Families, the target demographic, had already passed judgment, and competing releases like A Minecraft Movie, which grossed over $163 million domestically, dominated the family market. New films such as The King of Kings and The Chosen: The Last Supper Part 3 also drew audiences away, with the latter outperforming Snow White despite being a re-release itself.
Second, the Mother’s Day timing may have misfired. While the holiday could have aligned with the film’s female-led narrative, Snow White’s controversies—particularly Zegler’s polarizing comments and the film’s “woke” label from conservative critics—alienated key audience segments. Posts on X highlighted sentiments like “Go woke, go broke,” reflecting a backlash that likely kept red-state families away. The film’s feminist reimagining, while appealing to some, clashed with traditional expectations of the fairy tale, failing to resonate broadly.
Third, Disney’s marketing strategy for the re-release appeared lackluster. Unlike the studio’s proactive efforts to generate buzz for earlier remakes, Snow White’s re-release seemed hastily executed, with little promotional push to counter its negative perception. The decision to re-release a film just days before its digital debut also raised eyebrows, as potential viewers may have opted to wait for home viewing.
Implications for Disney and Zegler
The Snow White debacle has significant ramifications for Disney’s live-action remake pipeline. The studio reportedly paused a planned Tangled remake, signaling a reassessment of its strategy for adapting pre-1989 animated classics. While billion-dollar hits like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Lion King (2019) proved the formula’s potential, recent underperformers like Snow White and Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) suggest audiences are growing weary of straightforward remakes. Disney may pivot to more innovative takes, like Cruella (2021), which succeeded with a fresh spin on a classic character.
For Rachel Zegler, the fallout is complex. Despite the film’s failure, Snow White became her second-highest-grossing movie, pushing her career box office past $700 million, behind only The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ($349 million). Critics consistently praised her performance, with reviews calling her a “shining supernova” and “pure Disney magic.” Yet her outspokenness—on the original film, politics, and social issues—has made her a lightning rod for criticism. Disney’s reported hiring of a social media guru to vet her posts underscores the studio’s concern over her impact on the film’s reception.
Zegler’s future in Hollywood remains uncertain. She has no major film projects announced, though she continues to shine on stage, starring in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway in 2024 and preparing for Evita in London’s West End in July 2025. Some speculate she may pivot to smaller, indie projects, like a drama with Marisa Tomei, to rebuild her image. However, her talent is undeniable, and industry insiders argue that her box office struggles reflect broader issues with Snow White’s execution, not her star power.
Looking Ahead
The Snow White re-release flop is a cautionary tale for Disney, highlighting the risks of banking on nostalgia without addressing modern audience expectations. The studio’s live-action remakes must balance reverence for the originals with fresh, compelling storytelling to avoid alienating fans. For Snow White, a second life on Disney+ may salvage some viewership, as streaming audiences often embrace films that struggled theatrically. However, the film’s cultural and financial impact will likely be remembered as a low point in Disney’s remake era.
As for the Mother’s Day experiment, it serves as a stark reminder that even the most iconic brands can’t force a fairy tale ending. Disney’s Snow White aimed to rekindle magic but instead became a lesson in miscalculation, leaving the studio—and its star—to pick up the pieces of a poisoned apple.
