Controversial Live-Action Film Fails to Draw Crowds Amid Backlash and Empty Theaters

Los Angeles, CA – Disney’s highly anticipated live-action remake of Snow White, which hit theaters on March 21, 2025, has stumbled out of the gate with a shockingly low $43 million in domestic box office earnings over its opening weekend. The film, plagued by accusations of “wokeness” and a series of pre-release controversies, has failed to resonate with audiences, leaving theaters eerily empty and sparking renewed debate over the studio’s strategy of reimagining its classic animated tales.

Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the $250 million production (excluding marketing costs) was expected to at least approach the $100 million mark globally for its debut, according to initial industry projections. Instead, it grossed just $87.3 million worldwide, with the U.S. contributing a mere $43 million—a figure that pales in comparison to previous Disney live-action successes like The Little Mermaid(2023), which opened to $95 million, or The Lion King (2019), which roared to $191.8 million.

Critics and fans alike have pointed to the film’s creative liberties as a key factor in its dismal performance. The decision to replace the iconic Seven Dwarfs with a diverse group of CGI-rendered “magical creatures” drew ire from traditionalists, while Zegler’s public comments dismissing the original 1937 cartoon’s romance plot as outdated and “sexist” fueled a backlash that branded the film “Snow Woke.” Adding to the woes, reports of behind-the-scenes tensions between Zegler and Gadot, coupled with a scaled-back premiere to avoid further controversy, left Disney scrambling to manage the narrative.

Opening weekend data paints a grim picture: Thursday previews netted just $3.5 million, and reports of deserted primetime screenings have circulated widely, with social media posts showing theaters with zero or single-digit ticket sales. In China, a critical market for Hollywood blockbusters, Snow White failed to crack the top five, earning less than $1 million in its first three days.

Analysts suggest the film’s failure goes beyond the “woke” label. “The numbers are disappointing, no question, but pinning it all on backlash oversimplifies things,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst at Comscore. “This is a crowded market, and the story just didn’t connect—controversy or not.” The film’s 43% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes (though audiences gave it a kinder 74%) and a B+ CinemaScore reflect a mixed reception that failed to ignite word-of-mouth buzz.

For Disney, the flop raises uncomfortable questions about its lucrative live-action remake pipeline, with projects like Moana and Tangled still in development. Compared to the 2019 Dumbo remake, which opened to $45 million on a $170 million budget and was deemed a disappointment, Snow White’s higher costs amplify the financial sting. Industry insiders estimate that, with marketing included, the film could lose upwards of $150 million if it doesn’t find its audience in the coming weeks.

Disney remains cautiously optimistic, banking on family audiences trickling in over time, much like Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), which grew from a $35 million opening to over $700 million worldwide. Yet, with empty seats dominating early showings and a cultural firestorm still smoldering, Snow White may be a cautionary tale for a studio once unrivaled in its fairy-tale magic. Mirror, mirror on the wall—this remake might be the grimmest of them all.analyze audience reactionsDisney's marketing strategiesmake it more engaging