Snow White’s Surprising Box Office Potential Defies Expectations

by

If preliminary box office predictions are correct, Snow White, a remake facing much criticism since Rachel Zegler was cast as the title character, might surprise its detractors and exceed expectations. Despite receiving a multitude of dislikes on YouTube, suggesting it could be a flop, the internet may not always accurately represent real-life success.

As reported by Deadline, the forecast from box office tracking company Quorum indicates that Snow White might debut with earnings between $63 to $70 million during the opening weekend of March 21, 2025. If this projection holds true, it would mark a significant milestone for star Rachel Zegler, surpassing her previous best opening weekend performance in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which made $44.6 million in November 2023. This potential opening would place Snow White on par with Disney’s live-action remake Cinderella, which debuted to $67 million on March 13, 2015, eventually grossing $201 million domestically and $542 million worldwide.

Compared to Disney’s live-action openings, a projected $63 to $70 million for Snow White places it in the mid-range. It falls significantly short of box office giants like The Lion King ($191 million), Beauty and the Beast ($174 million), Alice in Wonderland ($116 million), The Jungle Book ($103 million), The Little Mermaid ($95 million), or Aladdin ($91 million). However, it matches Maleficent’s opening weekend earnings of $65 million and surpasses Dumbo ($45 million), Christopher Robin ($24 million), Pete’s Dragon ($21 million), and even Mufasa: The Lion King, which initially underperformed with a $35 million opening but went on to defy expectations, earning $230 million domestically and ranking as the tenth highest grossing movie of 2024.

The “Controversy” Around ‘Snow White’ Might Not Be Real

The main focus of the debate concerning the movie “Snow White” has predominantly been directed towards the film’s lead actress, Rachel Zegler. In a way reminiscent of Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”, much of the criticism leveled at Zegler has been fueled by racism. Her outspoken character, which often leads her to confront criticism directly, has made her a more attractive target for cyberbullying. Some of Zegler’s criticisms about the Snow White ride at Disneyland were distorted and misrepresented as criticisms of the original movie, leading to widespread misunderstanding. Additionally, a post she made criticizing Donald Trump voters was later deleted and apologized for, which has further entangled “Snow White” in cultural conflicts.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to see that the pre-release buzz for “Snow White” is strong, drawing attention from a wide range of audiences. Women under and over 35, as well as men under 35, seem particularly intrigued. The timing couldn’t be better, with the film being a major family release coinciding with some schools’ spring breaks.

“Snow White” has its work cut out for it, given its reported $240 million budget and the need to perform well at the box office. However, early signs suggest it could have a strong opening. Plus, Disney stands to gain from “Snow White” merchandise sales, which could make the initial investment worthwhile in the long run.

Read More

2025-02-08 02:31