Disney’s latest live-action film, Snow White, is struggling at the box office. After three weeks in theaters, it has grossed only $77.4 million domestically, falling short of expectations. This past weekend, the film lost 450 theaters and saw a 58% drop in ticket sales, earning just $6.1 million.
In a surprising twist, Snow White even lost to a Christian television show, The Chosen: Last Supper, which brought in $6.7 million despite being shown on 1,500 fewer screens. With a production and promotion cost estimated at around $350 million, Snow White would need to gross approximately $700 million worldwide to break even. Analysts predict it may struggle to reach $200 million globally.
This disappointing performance puts Snow White on track to become one of Disney’s lowest-grossing live-action remakes. The previous record holder was Dumbo, which made $115 million domestically and $353 million worldwide in 2019. For context, the live-action 101 Dalmatians from 1996 grossed around $652 million in today’s dollars.
Critics have pointed to various reasons for the film’s failure. Some believe that the changes made to the classic story did not resonate with audiences. The film’s star, Rachel Zegler, has also faced criticism for her comments about the film, which some consider to be dismissive of the original tale’s charm.
Interestingly, the weekend also saw the release of the Minecraft movie, which broke records with a $157 million domestic opening and a $350 million global debut. This success raises questions about audience preferences, as some experts have claimed that people are less interested in going to the movies. Yet, the strong performance of Minecraft suggests that when films appeal to audiences, they will come out in droves.
Despite mixed reviews, Minecraft’s box office success demonstrates that a film’s connection to its audience matters. Snow White’s struggles indicate a disconnect between the film’s direction and what viewers are seeking in their movie experiences. The ongoing conversation about how to create films that resonate with audiences continues, as Disney navigates these challenges moving forward.