Despite all the backlash Rachel Zegler and Disney have endured in recent months, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the studio’s Snow White live-action remake. Set to premiere on March 21, the film stars Zegler as the titular protagonist and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.
The early box office projections for Snow White are now out, thanks to Deadline! The media outlet reports that the movie could achieve a decent three-day domestic opening (Canada and the US) of $63–70 million. If these numbers hold, the film would mark Zegler’s biggest box office debut, surpassing The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which opened with $44.6 million.
However, several issues are clouding the movie’s release and potential box office performance. One major factor is Zegler’s past remarks about the original animated film, in which she described the classic as “dated” and “weird”—particularly regarding Snow White’s relationship with the Prince. These comments sparked a heavy backlash from fans.
Zegler’s previous criticisms of Disney’s portrayal of princesses have further fueled debate. Additionally, many people have questioned her casting, as she is of half-Polish and half-Colombian descent, while Snow White originates from a German folktale.
Another controversy surrounding the live-action remake is its depiction of Snow White’s seven companions, with only one actor with dwarfism cast among them. Peter Dinklage was among the first to criticise Disney for this decision.
The Game of Thrones actor lashed out at Disney for casting a Latina Snow White while still telling the “backward story” of the seven dwarfs. In response, Disney stated that they consulted the dwarfism community and are taking a “different approach” to avoid stereotypes.
Moreover, the remake’s massive budget of $240–269 million will play a key role as well. After factoring in the costs associated with the movie’s theatrical release and marketing efforts—typically about 2.5 times the production budget—the film’s final break-even point could exceed $670 million or even reach $700 million.
Despite these significant concerns, Disney’s Snow White live-action remake still has a fighting chance. First, it will be the biggest theatrical release of March 2025, as no other major films are set to debut in theatres that month.
The next major release is expected to be Ryan Coogler’s Sinners on April 18. This gives Snow White nearly a month to perform well at the box office and generate as much revenue as possible.
Additionally, awareness of the movie is strong among women both under and over 35, Deadline confirms. Snow White-related videos on YouTube have amassed over 141 million views and are spreading rapidly, with a strong viral rate of 47:1. Notably, these numbers have been achieved despite the film having no official presence on X or Instagram.
This suggests that Snow White could defy expectations and emerge as a box-office success. However, its ultimate fate depends on how the movie is received. Strong critical reviews could provide a bigger boost than currently predicted. Let’s see what happens. Stay tuned for more updates.