Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Struggles After $336 Million Price Tag and Wave of Controversy

Disney’s live-action Snow White has turned into one of the studio’s most troubled remakes, after new filings revealed the film cost a staggering $336.5 million — far above its original production budget.

The movie, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, was already surrounded by controversy long before it hit theaters. Now, with disappointing box office numbers and sky-high costs, the film’s financial performance has come under intense scrutiny.

Controversy From the Start

Filming began in 2022, but headlines quickly followed. Zegler publicly criticized the 1937 animated classic that inspired the remake, calling parts of the original story “extremely dated” and describing Prince Charming’s behavior as “stalker-like.”

Those comments sparked backlash, including from David Hand, son of one of the supervising directors of the original film. He said the remake strayed too far from the spirit of the classic and suggested the original creators would be deeply disappointed.

Criticism intensified when the film’s computer-generated dwarfs appeared in the first trailer. Many viewers described them as unsettling, and the trailer reportedly became one of the most disliked videos on YouTube, with more than a million dislikes.

Political Firestorm

The controversy didn’t stop there. After thanking fans for watching the trailer, Zegler added “free palestine” in a social media post. According to reports, producer Marc Platt flew to New York in an attempt to convince her to remove it, but the post remains online.

Zegler later posted strong political comments aimed at MAGA supporters and President Trump after his second election victory. Reports suggest producers tried to limit further damage, but by then, public debate around the film had already intensified.

Box Office Disappointment

When the film finally opened, it failed to meet expectations. It earned $87.3 million worldwide in its opening weekend, about 13% below forecasts. Its total global gross reached just $205.7 million, placing it near the bottom among Disney’s 21 live-action adaptations of its animated classics.

Only a handful of titles performed worse, including:

• Mulan (released during the pandemic)

• 102 Dalmatians

• Christopher Robin

• The Jungle Book

Adjusting for inflation makes the comparison even harsher. Both 102 Dalmatians and Christopher Robin earned more in today’s dollars than Snow White. To find a lower-grossing remake not affected by a global crisis, you have to go back to 1994’s The Jungle Book.

The Real Shock: The Cost

While the box office numbers were disappointing, the real blow came from the production cost.

Movies made in the United States usually keep individual budgets under wraps. But Snow White was filmed in the United Kingdom, where studios benefit from the government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit — a tax incentive that refunds up to 25.5% of local spending.

Because of that system, detailed financial information becomes public. The filings show that Snow White was forecasted to exceed its already large production budget, ultimately reaching $336.5 million.

For a film that earned just over $205 million globally, that math is difficult to ignore.

A Cautionary Tale for Disney?

Disney’s live-action remakes have often been reliable money-makers. But Snow White now stands as one of the most controversial and financially disappointing entries in the lineup.

Between creative changes, public backlash, political debate, and soaring production costs, the film faced headwinds at nearly every stage.

For Disney, the story of Snow White may serve as a reminder that even the most iconic fairy tales don’t always guarantee a happily ever after at the box office.