You Won’t Believe What Saves Disney from Snow White’s Box Office Disaster

The past month has been quite eventful for Disney, peaking with the unveiling of their latest take on the classic tale, “Snow White.” Starring Rachel Zegler from “West Side Story” and “The Hunger Games,” and Gal Gadot known for her roles in “Wonder Woman” and “Fast & Furious,” this version of Snow White has been surrounded by controversy. Despite the buzz leading up to its release, the movie itself has not lived up to expectations, as indicated by its disappointing box office performance and Rotten Tomatoes score of 39%.

By 2025, Disney has reimagined many of its classic fairy tale princess films into live-action versions, with some notable successes that differ significantly from the original take on Snow White, like the 2015 film Cinderella, which deviated from the musical format and provided a deeper examination of previously one-dimensional characters. The pipeline of upcoming live-action remakes indicates that this area of Disney’s business is far from over, as these projects were already in development before Snow White was released. Nevertheless, the release of Snow White raises questions about the future success of live-action adaptations, and it seems that Disney’s forthcoming productions appear more promising.

Snow White’s Box Office Hasn’t Lived Up To Expectations

The History Of Snow White Suggests It Should Have Made A Profit

The financial performance of “Snow White” has been disappointing, with its global earnings currently at about $185 million, while its production cost was $209 million (as per Box Office Mojo). Typically, a film needs to earn twice its budget to cover costs, which means this is a significant loss for Disney. A month after its wide release, the chances of it recovering financially are nearly nil. Following an underperformance during its opening weekend, its fortunes only declined thereafter. It seemed reasonable for Disney to anticipate that the movie would be successful.

Snow White Movie	Worldwide Box Office	RT Critics Score
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)	$396,592,829	48%
Mirror Mirror (2012)	$183,018,522	50%
Disney’s Snow White (2025)	$184,910,998	39%

To begin with, numerous 21st-century adaptations of the live-action version of “Snow White” have managed to recoup their costs. In fact, many of Disney’s live-action reboots, although receiving mixed opinions, have enjoyed successful to record-breaking runs at the box office. The upcoming 2025 adaptation of Snow White features some well-known actors who have starred in recent hits, and it was long anticipated as a remake of Walt Disney’s initial underdog project that sparked his career. However, all this hype didn’t translate into success when March 2025 finally arrived.

Disney’s Next Live-Action Remakes Are Guaranteed To Be Major Box Office Hits

Summer Blockbusters To Be Lilo & Stitch And Moana Will Probably Do Better

Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptations include “Lilo & Stitch,” set for release on May 23, 2025, and “Moana” on July 10, 2026. These films could help boost Disney’s live-action remake strategy, given their widespread family appeal that’s popular at the box office currently, and their summer blockbuster release dates. Interestingly, neither of these movies fall under the category of traditional Disney classics; instead, they offer a fresh take on what we’ve seen from most live-action adaptations so far.

If you’re looking for something fresh to break the monotony, consider these two films: “Lilo & Stitch” offers a unique tale distinct from traditional Disney Princess stories, with a stronger emphasis on humor. On the other hand, some might argue that “Snow White” was too somber in its approach, which could have contributed to its less-than-stellar performance given its reliance on fun and nostalgia. Conversely, “Moana” stands out as a contemporary update, boasting the exciting reprisal of Dwayne Johnson as Maui, this time in live-action.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the upcoming film, “Lilo & Stitch,” is expected to break the $100 million mark during its opening weekend. Unlike Snow White, it looks set to shine from the get-go! Interestingly, it appears that this modern adaptation has a more modest budget than the classic Snow White, which makes it more likely to rake in profits. While we’ll have to wait and see how the live-action “Moana” fares, no Moana movie to date has come close to being a flop.

Upcoming Live-Action Remakes Will Make Snow White’s Box Office Easier For Disney To Forget

Disney Can Handle A Few Flops, & Still Loves Its Live-Action Remakes

In recent years, Disney has faced challenges but bounced back stronger than ever, with some of their live-action remakes like “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), “Aladdin” (2019), and “The Lion King” (2019) earning over $1 billion. Yet, the competition isn’t winding down. If “Lilo & Stitch,” released following “Snow White” – two iconic Disney films with distinct themes – turns out to be a success, it could overshadow the financial struggles of March and April, providing additional support to Disney.

Initially upon release, Lilo & Stitch will face competition from the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. However, it will enjoy sole ownership of movie theaters for a while. With the recent trend of Disney remakes, such as Snow White, causing skepticism among film enthusiasts, the potential success of Lilo & Stitch may prompt the company to pursue new projects, particularly exploring possibilities for reimagining some of their more contemporary animated films.

2025-04-22 20:48