Plans for aSnow White remake were confirmed in October 2016, with Wilson attached as a screenwriter. Webb entered talks to direct in May 2019 and was announced as director in September.Principal photography took place in the United Kingdom from March to July 2022, with additionalreshoots taking place in June 2024. The film was initially set to be released in March 2024 but faced delays due to the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Prior to its release, the film generated significant controversy regarding itscolor-blind casting, changes to the story, and the reimagining of theSeven Dwarfs. Additional controversy stemmed from lead actress Zegler's public critiques of the original film andDonald Trump, as well as her and Gadot's opposing views on theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, leading to calls forboycotts on both political sides.
Snow White premiered at theAlcázar of Segovia inSegovia, Spain, on March 12, 2025, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 21. It received mixed reviews from critics who praised Zegler's performance but took issue with some of the film's stylistic choices. With a production budget of $240–270 million, it is one of Disney'smost expensive films. It grossed $206 million worldwide and is considered by analysts to be abox-office bomb.
Plot
A benevolent queen gives birth during a snowstorm. To honor the day, she and her husband name their daughter Snow White. Years later, after the queen dies of a sudden illness, the king hastily remarries before embarking on a military campaign. When he disappears, the new queen usurps the throne, revealing herself as an enchantress whose vanity surpasses her beauty.
Under theEvil Queen's rule, subjects are either leftdestitute or conscripted into theroyal guard. Fearing that Snow White's beauty will outshine her own, the Queen confines Snow White to the palace, forces her to work as ascullery maid, and asks aMagic Mirror daily who is "the fairest one of all". The Mirror always responds in her favor.
One day, Snow White sees Jonathan, the leader of a band of bandits, raiding the pantry. When he is sentenced to be tied to the gates, she frees him. That same day, the Magic Mirror deems Snow White as the fairest. The Queen orders theRoyal Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest, kill her, and bring her heart back in a jeweled box. The Huntsman instead warns Snow White of the Queen's intentions. At his urging, Snow White flees deep into the forest.
Woodland creatures lead Snow White to a secluded cottage, where she falls asleep. She awakens later that night to find herself confronted by the owners, seven "magical beings"[a] who work in adiamond mine. They sympathize with her and agree to let her stay. Meanwhile, the Queen, having learned from the Magic Mirror that Snow White is still alive, imprisons the Huntsman before ordering a search.
Snow White and Jonathan meet again in the forest and fend off the guards alongside the bandits. The two realize their feelings for each other before Jonathan departs to find the king, whom Snow White believes may still be alive. Jonathan is captured by the guards and imprisoned by the Queen, who deduces Snow White's whereabouts. Retreating to her secret chambers, she transforms into a peddler woman and creates a poisoned apple to curse Snow White with the Sleeping Death.
After the miners leave for work, the Queen finds their cottage and tricks Snow White into eating the apple by saying she is an ally of Jonathan's. She then reveals to her stepdaughter that she killed her father. Snow White falls into the "Sleeping Death", and the Queen retreats to her castle. The miners find her sleeping body upon returning. Having escaped, Jonathan arrives to discover her dead and mournfullykisses her. Snow White awakens and rallies the miners and Jonathan's bandits to overthrow the Evil Queen.
Snow White confronts her stepmother, who forcefully goads her to take the throne, placing a diamond dagger into her hand. Snow White refuses to hurt her, reminding the people what the kingdom used to be like under her parents' rule. Moved by the memories and the princess' kindness, the guards turn on the Queen and join the miners, the bandits, the Huntsman, and the civilians. The Queen tries to attack Snow White, but the miners and bandits defend her. The Magic Mirror tells the Queen that Snow White will always be fairer than her due to her kindness and justness. Snow White arrives to see the Queen destroying the Mirror, the source of her powers. As a result, she turns into glass herself and disappears into a vortex while the Magic Mirror repairs itself. With Snow White named the new queen at a grand party, everyone in the kingdom arrives to celebrate.
Gal Gadot as theEvil Queen,[16] Snow White's vain, jealous, andtyrannical stepmother who is obsessed with being the fairest one of all.
Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, a new character created as Snow White's love interest (partially based on thePrince from the original film) and a rebel who wants to defy the Evil Queen's monarchy.[17]
Jeremy Swift as the voice/facial motion-capture ofDoc,[18][15] the intelligent leader of the seven inhabitants of the forest.[a]
Jonathan Bourne as the motion capture/puppeteer of Doc[15]
Andrew Barth Feldman as the voice/facial motion-capture ofDopey,[18][15] a member of the seven inhabitants of the forest who does not speak and makes other sounds until after Jonathan wakes Snow White from her Sleeping Death. He is ultimately revealed as the narrator.[15]
Jaih Betote as the motion-capture/puppeteer of Dopey[15]
Tituss Burgess as the voice/facial motion-capture ofBashful,[18][15] a shy member of the seven inhabitants of the forest.
Leah Haile as the motion capture/puppeteer of Bashful[15]
Martin Klebba as the voice/facial motion-capture ofGrumpy,[19][15] a grouchy member of the seven inhabitants of the forest.
Omari Bernard as motion capture/puppeteer of Grumpy[15]
George Salazar as the voice/facial motion-capture ofHappy,[18][15] a cheerful member of the seven inhabitants of the forest.
David Birch as the motion capture/puppeteer of Happy[15]
Jason Kravits as the voice/facial motion-capture ofSneezy,[18][15] a member of the seven inhabitants of the forest who sneezes frequently.
Dominic Owen as the motion capture/puppeteer of Sneezy[15]
Andy Grotelueschen as the voice/facial motion-capture ofSleepy,[18][15] a tired member of the seven inhabitants of the forest.
Sandy Foster as the motion capture/puppeteer of Sleepy[15]
Patrick Page as the voice/facial motion-capture of theMagic Mirror,[20] a mirror containing a being that truthfully answers the Evil Queen's question of who is the fairest one of all.
Ansu Kabia as theHuntsman,[21] an unnamed hunter and the Evil Queen's servant whom she orders to kill Snow White and bring back her heart.
Additionally,Hadley Fraser andLorena Andrea appear as the Good King and the Good Queen,[15] Snow White's parents. Appearing as Jonathan's team of sevenbandits are George Appleby as Quigg who is a "master of the crossbow", Colin Michael Carmichael as Farno, Samuel Baxter as Scythe, Jimmy Johnston as Finch,Dujonna Gift as Maple who is Quigg's love interest, Idriss Kargbo as Bingley, and Jaih Betote as Norwich.[15]
Theroyal guards consist of Adrian Bower as thecaptain of the guards, Felipe Bejarano as Guard Paul who used to work as a farmer that also grew cherry trees, Simeon Oakes as Guard Matthew who used to work as a baker, Joshmaine Joseph as Guard William, and Chike Chan as Guard Arthur.[15][22][23]
On October 31, 2016,The Hollywood Reporter reported thatWalt Disney Pictures was developing a live-action remake ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs, withMarc Platt, an avid fan of the original film, signed on as lead producer andErin Cressida Wilson being in talks to write the screenplay. Callum McDougall, in his third producing collaboration with Disney and Platt, serves as an executive producer.[24] Disney had been considering a live-actionSnow White film since the early 2000s and at one point planned on adapting the story as amartial arts film set in China.[25]
In June 2021,Rachel Zegler was cast in the title role.[30] The casting of an actress ofLatina descent asSnow White, who is described in the originalGrimm fairy tale as having skin "as white as snow", was met with criticism from some quarters.[31][32] Zegler responded to the criticism in January 2022, stating that Snow White is popular inSpanish-speaking countries and that casting a Latina actress in the role was significant due to its rarity.[33] In August 2023, it was reported that Mexican actressRenata Vaca had been one of two finalists for the role. Vaca revealed that the casting call was "open to allethnic groups" and that initial auditions required performing a song from aDisney Princess film.[34] Zegler's casting was solidified through a "glowing recommendation" to Webb fromSteven Spielberg, who directed Zegler as María in his2021 film adaptation ofWest Side Story.[35]
In November 2021,Gal Gadot was cast as theEvil Queen.[16] A new casting search for an actress to star as a younger version of Snow White was launched and Emilia Faucher was cast.[14][36] On January 12, 2022,Andrew Burnap was cast as a new character named Jonathan in the lead male role,[17] replacing the character ofThe Prince.[37] At the 2022 Denver Fan Expo,Martin Klebba revealed that he would be portraying Grumpy; Klebba previously played similar dwarf roles in prior productions based on the "Snow White" fairy tale: in the 2001 made-for-television filmSnow White: The Fairest of Them All as Friday, and in the 2012 fantasy comedyMirror Mirror as Butcher.[19] Colin Michael Carmichael appears.[38]Andrew Barth Feldman,Tituss Burgess,Jason Kravits,George Salazar,Jeremy Swift, and Andrew Grotelueschen were all cast as the remaining members of theSeven Dwarfs, with Salazar and Grotelueschen both making their film debuts.[18]David Krumholtz auditioned for Grumpy and Sleepy.[39]
Writing
In October 2024, Zegler explained that the film would feature an altered origin for Snow White's name, with the character being named as an homage to the weather on the night of her birth, after surviving a snowstorm with her parents, a narrative element she stated was inspired bya previous adaptation of the fairy tale.[40][41] She also faced criticism for comments about modernizing the titular character, particularly regarding the prince's role.[42] AtD23 Expo 2022, she stated:
The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird. So we didn't do that this time. We have a different approach to what I'm sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie, Andrew Burnap, great dude. […] But it's really not about her love story at all, which is really, really wonderful. […] All of Andrew's scenes could get cut, who knows? It's Hollywood, baby![43][44]
Some criticized these changes as overlyfeminist, while others accused Zegler of misrepresenting feminism.[45]David Hand, son of the original film's co-director, called the remake "insulting".[46] The controversy promptedThe Daily Wire to announce a competing adaptation, though production stalled after starBrett Cooper's 2024 departure.[47] Zegler later clarified that the film would still include a love story, expressing sadness that her comments were misunderstood.[48]
In January 2022, actorPeter Dinklage, who has a form ofdwarfism, criticized the film for remaking a "backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together".[49] Disney responded that "to avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film," they were "taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community."[50] Dinklage's comments drew mixed reactions from other actors with dwarfism, including Jeff Brooks, Katrina Kemp, andDylan Postl, who felt Dinklage may have been denying roles to people with dwarfism.[51]
Photos published by the Daily Mail in July 2023 led to speculation that the dwarfs had been reimagined as one actor with dwarfism and six non-dwarf actors of diverse backgrounds.[52] Disney initially called the photos fake, then acknowledged that they did in fact come from the production.[53] These rumored changes were criticized as overlypolitically correct and reducing opportunities for dwarf actors.[54]Jason "Wee Man" Acuña ofJackass criticized Disney, asking "why are you hiring 'Snow White and the seven average people'?"[55] The actors in the photos appear to have featured in the film as the seven bandits, rather than as dwarfs.
The final film features seven CGI characters resembling the 1937 dwarfs,[7] though they are never called "dwarfs" in the film.[10] It also avoids Snow White being relegated to the dwarfs' maid; upon arriving at thecottage, she falls asleep, and the dwarfs agree to let her stay for her safety. During the musical number “Whistle While You Work,” all the characters share in cleaning up the home.[41]
In addition, other traditionalplot points are also reimagined: the huntsman spares Snow White's life and, instead of placing an animal heart in a box as in the original, uses an apple, eliminating the need for animal death while preserving the deception.[41] The film also reframes Snow White's identity; her destiny is to be a fair and fearless leader, and the classic song "Someday My Prince Will Come" is replaced with "Waiting On A Wish," a solo about her "hope to become her father's daughter and the kind leader she was raised to be."[41]Prince Charming is also replaced by Jonathan, abandit leader, whose relationship with Snow White evolves from mutual skepticism to earned respect and love.[41]
A fire damaged the production set on March 15 atPinewood Studios; the stage was under construction when a tree caught fire according to a worker,[62] leading to the blaze.[63] A source from Disney confirmed that "no filming was underway".[64] The shooting schedule was also reconfigured for Zegler to travel toLos Angeles to present at the94th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, in support of herWest Side Story colleagues.[65] While Zegler was attending the ceremony, Gadot began filming her scenes.[66] Unlike in the original, her character sings and dances.[67] On April 22, Gadot confirmed that she had completed filming her scenes,[68] much later adding that she enjoyed playing the role of thefirst Disney villain and that she was able to make a more dramatic role by changing her voice due to the film being amusical.[69][70] On July 13, Zegler revealed that filming had wrapped.[71][72]Mandy Moore, known for her work onLa La Land, choreographed the musical sequences.[15]
Disney was unsatisfied with the film's original cut and ordered reshoots,[25] which took place in June 2024.[73][74][75] The resulting cut of the film replaced some of the originally intended ending with a new scene involving the Evil Queen and the Magic Mirror.[25] The track "Snow White Returns" was also a late addition to the film.[76] Much of the plotline involving the bandits was excised, as was a song titled "Hidden in My Heart", which was described byThe New York Times as a "second-act…tear-jerker sung by one of the dwarfs."[25]Visual effects for the film were provided byMoving Picture Company,Framestore, Day For Nite,Passion Pictures, Vitality Visual Effects, Cheap Shot VFX,Lola Visual Effects, andCrafty Apes.[77][15]
SongwritersBenj Pasek and Justin Paul, who previously wrote the lyrics for two new songs for Disney's2019 remake ofAladdin, wrote new songs alongsideJack Feldman as additional lyricist, including a new"I Want" song for Snow White, titled "Waiting on a Wish". They also wrote a new "villain song" for the Evil Queen, titled "All Is Fair", a new love duet for Snow White and Jonathan titled "A Hand Meets a Hand" (written in collaboration withLizzy McAlpine), and a new opening ensemble number titled "Good Things Grow".[78] The film features four of the eight songs from the original film byFrank Churchill andLarry Morey: "Heigh-Ho", "Whistle While You Work", "The Silly Song" and "Someday My Prince Will Come", the final of which is heard only instrumentally in the underscore due to the plot changes.[24][79][15] In January 2025, it was revealed that Jeff Morrow had composed the score.Dave Metzger, a frequent collaborator on the music for films made byWalt Disney Animation Studios, served as orchestrator for the songs.[80]Christophe Beck, who also worked on several Disney projects (both animated and live-action) and for whom Morrow served as a protégé, served as score consultant.[15] On March 4, 2025, it was announced that the soundtrack album would be released on March 14 byWalt Disney Records, with "Waiting on a Wish" released to the public that same day as the lead single.[81][82] A deluxe edition of the album was released on March 20, 2025, featuring instrumental versions of the songs and Morrow's underscore.[83]
Marketing
On September 9, 2022, during Disney's 2022D23 Expo presentation, a 30-second first-look trailer as well as first-look images were previewed. There were quick flashes of several major settings, including Snow White's cottage in the woods, the intricately designed interior of the Queen's castle, and the moss-covered forest. There were also short glimpses of Gadot as the Evil Queen questioning her magic mirror, Zegler as Snow White, and Snow White's hand falling with the poisoned apple toppling along with her.[84] Gadot said about her role that playing the Evil Queen was "very different than what [she] had done before. [She is] used to playing the other end of where the heart should be", but she found it very "delightful" to "get under her skin".[85][86] The title logo was also revealed.[87]
On October 27, 2023, Disney released the official first image of the film with Zegler as Snow White as well as Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.[88][89] Zegler confirmed that there is a lot of CGI, which made her feel "nervous".[79] Footage of Gadot as the Evil Queen was shown at the 2024 CinemaCon.[90] Disney presented new footage and a behind-the-scenes look during the 2024CineEurope.[91][92] The 2024 D23 Expo presented a sneak preview with a clip of the musical number "Whistle While You Work" along with the first trailer.[93]
The trailer forSnow White was released onYouTube in August 2024 and became themost disliked film trailer on the platform, garnering an estimated nearly one milliondislikes and over 82,000likes within three weeks, according to available data frombrowser extensions that display an approximation of YouTube dislikes.[94]
The first full trailer debuted at D23 Brazil in November 2024 and was attached to select theatrical screenings ofUniversal Pictures'sWicked before eventually being released ontoYouTube on December 3, 2024.[95][96] Stuart Heritage ofThe Guardian criticized the visual effects for the animals and dwarves. He said the dwarves "look like someone has snuck intoDisneyland, grabbed the statues fromSnow White's Enchanted Wish and wrapped them in human flesh, as a serial killer would with a gift for their mother" and "like someone has shaved theSonic the Hedgehog from that firstSonic the Hedgehog trailer that everyone hated."[97]Polygon's Petrana Radulovic wrote, "The newSnow White looks like it's putting in more of a plot, likely one where our plucky heroine will stand up to her despotic tyrant of a stepmother in a YA dystopian plotline out of 2014. Maybe it'll work, storywise! Visually, though, everything seems like it's working on the same budget asABC Family'sOnce Upon a Time."[98] An international trailer featuring Snow White's origins was released on December 19, 2024.[99] A featurette showing a behind-the-scenes look and how it would honor the legacy of the 1937 film was released on February 20, 2025.[18] The press tour began in Tokyo on March 5, 2025, with Zegler joining her Japanese dub counterpart Sakura Kiryu to perform "Waiting on a Wish" live for the first time.[100] On March 10, 2025, the day tickets for the film went on sale, Disney released new posters, a TV spot, and a film clip.[101] Zegler later appeared on the March 17, 2025 episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live! to give the first live television performance of "Waiting on a Wish".[35]
At least $70 million was spent on marketing, which, combined with the main production budget, gave Disney a total investment of $350 million for the film.[102]
Release
Theatrical
During the 2022D23 Expo Presentation, it was announced thatSnow White would be released in 2024.[103][104] On September 15, 2022, the film was announced to have a release date of March 22, 2024.[105] However, in October 2023, it was delayed a year to March 21, 2025, with the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike cited as the rationale for the delay.[7] The theatrical release included engagements inIMAX,Dolby Cinema,4DX,ScreenX andD-BOX.[106][107][108]
The European premiere took place on March 12, 2025, at Spain'sAlcázar of Segovia, which inspired the castle in the original film, to give the film a more elaborate showing at a "fairytale" venue.[109][110] AHollywood premiere without regular red-carpet press took place at theEl Capitan Theatre on March 15, 2025, due to the controversies surrounding Zegler and Gadot's political views.[110][111] In Gadot's honor, the film's first premiere in Israel took place on March 19, 2025, at the Planet Cinema inRishon LeZion, with prominent figures from Israel attending.[112]
The film was re-released in 1,000 theatres in the United States on May 9, 2025, during theMother's Day weekend, making $335,000.[5][113]
In the United States,Snow White debuted at No. 2 onFandango at Home's top 10 digital sales and rental chart for the week ending May 18, shortly after its May 13 release for premium digital rental and purchase.[118] the film later ranked No. 5 on the same chart for the week ending May 25, and later placed No. 8 for the week ending June 1.[119][120]Snow White ranked No. 4 on the overall disc sales chart for the week ended July 5, with 62% of its unit sales from DVD, 36% from Blu-ray, and 2% from 4K Ultra HD. It placed No. 7 on the Blu-ray chart, according toCircana's VideoScan chart.[121] In the United Kingdom,Snow White ranked No. 6 on the U.K.Official Film Chart for the week ending May 28.[122] The film subsequently ranked No. 8 for the week ending June 4.[123]
Streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol, which monitors daily updated VOD charts and streaming ratings across the globe, reported thatSnow White became the most-streamed film on Disney+ in the U.S. following its release on the platform.[124] Analytics companySamba TV, which gathers viewership data from certainsmart TVs and content providers, reported that the film experienced a 405% spike in viewership over its first five days on Disney+ following its streaming debut, compared to its performance during the PVOD release.[125]Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on certain American television screens, calculated thatSnow White was streamed for 581 million minutes from June 9–15, making it the fifth most-streamed film that week.[126][127] In the following week, June 16–22,Snow White was streamed for 284 million minutes, ranking as the sixth most-streamed film.[128][129] During the week of June 23–29,Snow White placed eighth with 161 million minutes viewed.[130][131]
Reception
Box office
Snow White grossed $87.2million in the United States and Canada, and $118.5million in other territories for a worldwide total of $205.7million.[4][5]Deadline Hollywood estimated the film would lose Disney around $115 million.[132]
In the United States and Canada,Snow White was released alongsideThe Alto Knights andAsh, and was projected to gross $45–55million from 4,200 theaters in its opening weekend.[2][3] It was initially projected to gross $63–70million, with analysts comparing this projection to the $69.4million opening ofMaleficent (2014) and believing that the film would overcome its controversies and fare well financially, given there being no strong competition against it on opening weekend, but in late February, projections were lowered.[133] The film made $16million on its first day, including an estimated $3.5million in Thursday previews.[134] It went on to debut to $42.2million, slightly below projections but still managing to top the box office due to little competition;[135] the low opening was attributed byThe Hollywood Reporter to "so-so audience scores and underwhelming reviews".[136]Business Insider reported that the film's behind-the-scenes controversies likely had little impact on its box-office performance,[137] whileDeadline reported that the film's financial performance could primarily be attributed to its marketing, the source material failing to resonate with younger audiences, and negative buzz surrounding the film's visuals.[134] In its second weekend, the film made $14.3 million (dropping 66%), finishing second behind newcomerA Working Man,[138][139] and then $6.1 million in its third weekend, falling to fourth.[140]
Producer Marc Platt's son Jonah Platt attributedSnow White's underperformance in its opening week partly to Zegler's social media post supporting Palestine.[141][142] Box-office analysts largely disagreed with the view that the film's underperformance could be attributed to political controversies and instead attributed it to the film's failure to resonate with critics and audiences.[137] Some actors and musicians have defended Zegler's comments.[143]
Critical response
The film received mixed reviews.[144] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 39% of 275 critics' reviews are positive; the consensus reads: "Snow White is hardly a grumpy time at the movies thanks to Rachel Zegler's luminous star turn, but its bashful treatment of the source material along with some dopey stylistic choices won't make everyone happy, either."[145] Rotten Tomatoes also reported that critics thought Zegler was "one huge highlight" of the film, but "Gadot's reception is mixed […] as are the CGI Dwarfs."[146]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 50 out of 100, based on 51 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[147] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed byPostTrak gave it an average rating of three out of five stars, with 43% saying they would definitely recommend it.[134]The Hollywood Reporter noted that Disney's previous theatrical remakes earned CinemaScores around the "A" range.[148] TheBBC reported that British film critics have mostly panned the film, while US critics were more positive.[149]
Katcy Stephan ofVariety lauded Zegler's performance, praising her as a "shiningsupernova" and her character as having "newfound depth through her fervent desire to become the leader her father believed she could be."[150] Siddhant Adlakha ofIGN called the film "the bestDisney live-action remake in a decade" and said that it "adapts the broad strokes of the original, while fleshing out its themes."[151] Brian Truitt ofUSA Today wrote that it "finds modern relevance amid the old material."[152] Patrick Gomez ofEntertainment Weekly described the film saying: "Disney's best live-action remake is the fairest of them all."[153]
Nicholas Barber of the BBC wrote, "The story is cluttered, the tone is muddled, and the pacing is off. Again, that doesn't make the film a disaster. In some ways, the identity crisis is what makes it worth seeing."[154] Witney Seibold of/Film wrote, "It's hollow, but unlike some more recent remakes, it seems to have thoughts in its head."[155] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote of the premise, "If that sounds like the standard female-empowerment template that's almost obligatory in contemporary fairy-tale retreads, it more or less is. But the incandescent Zegler sells it with conviction and heart."[156] Daniel Bayer ofAwardsWatch wrote, "[Marc] Webb gets the job done with minimal muss and fuss, and whenever Zegler is onscreen, the film manages to conjure up some of that good old Disney magic."[157] Dan Rubins ofSlant called it "a fairly paint-by-numbers exercise in updating a quintessential but unquestionably quaint property for modern consumption."[158] Amy Nicholson of theLos Angeles Times wrote that the film is "a fascinating case study in today's impossible contradictions—a magic mirror reflecting thetensions of the current times."[159] Nell Minow ofRogerEbert.com gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote, "Some parts of the film work better than others, but none of it has the sweetness and imagination of the animated feature. ThisSnow White is not the fairest of them all. It's just, well, fair."[160]
Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian called it "exhaustingly awful", with "tiresome pseudo-progressive additions", and criticized Zegler and Gadot's roles as "the dullest performances of their lives".[161] Johnny Oleksinski of theNew York Post wrote, "Thetimeless classic, a groundbreaking achievement for animation, has been turned into another pointless and awkward live-action automaton that vanishes from your mind the second it's over."[162] Tyler Taing ofDiscussingFilm wrote, "Aside from Rachel Zegler's powerhouse performance, there is little else to enjoy from this clumsy, poorly conceived, and cynical live-action Disney remake. Even Gal Gadot's hilariously bad line reads are not worth the trip to the theater."[163] Rodrigo Perez ofThe Playlist wrote, "While interjecting its social commentary,Snow White otherwise tackles much of the same ideas—the notions of true love, the power of friendship, and the triumph of good over evil—but it's all put together in a very familiar and garish package."[164] David Fear ofRolling Stone said it "may not be the worst live-action adaptation of an animated touchstone, though it's a strong contender for its blandest."[165]
Lead actorRachel Zegler openly criticized the original film, calling the story line "weird" and remarking that Snow White was saved by "a guy who literally stalks her".[169] She also condemned the plot saying that Snow White was "not going to be saved by the prince." These comments were condemned by many viewers, who categorized her as "shaming anyone who liked the original film", while others described her as a "walking PR disaster for Disney".[170][171]
Additional controversies that emerged during the film's development are discussed in theWriting section of this article.
Another call to boycott was made by Republican supporters in November 2024, followingthe U.S. presidential election, as Zegler posted "FuckDonald Trump" and attacked those who voted to re-elect him, saying, "May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace." Zegler later issued a public apology, saying she did not intend any harm with her message.[180][181][182]
In March 2025, severalArab organizations and individualsopposed to Israeli policies launched adigital campaign against the film, particularly targeting Gadot due to her past military service. Groups from Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tunisia,UAE, and Egypt, called for a regional boycott, arguing that screening the film supports theIsraeli occupation and the IDF's treatment ofPalestinians.[183][184][185] Later in April, the film was officially banned in Lebanon, and it was pulled from theaters in Kuwait.[186][187]
By April 2025, over 91% of reviews ofSnow White onIMDb were one star, which led to the site flagging the film with a notice of unusual activity due to concerns ofreview bombing.[188]Forbes noted the 284,000 one-star votes gathered in two weeks were as much as the remake ofThe Lion King had received in its lifetime.[189]
Impact
Due to the box-office underperformance ofSnow White, production on Disney's live-action remake ofTangled was suspended indefinitely in April 2025.[190][191] In October 2025, it was announced that the project had been resumed.[192]
Notes
^abcThe characters are not referred to as "dwarfs" in the film. The term "magical beings" was used in promotion.[10][11][12]
^"Cast It Talent".castittalent.com. January 12, 2022.Archived from the original on January 12, 2022.
^"Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs".Production List. Film & Television Industry Alliance. January 17, 2022.Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 17, 2022.
^Truitt, Brian (April 11, 2024)."Live from CinemaCon: Deadpool gets a popcorn bucket, 'Captain America' debuts first look".USA Today.Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. RetrievedApril 12, 2024.That's followed by a sizzle reel of past and future movies, including a look at Gal Gadot's Evil Queen in upcoming live-action "Snow White" – so evil! – and Harrison Ford's President "Thunderbolt" Ross in Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World."
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