Snow White: one of the biggest flops of 2025

High expectations, low revenues

Several controversies overshadowed the North American release of the Marc Webb-directed ‘Snow White’ in March 2025. In fact, it's possible that they affected the film's box office gross during its first weekend in theatres. It reached $43 million, according to Disney estimates, which is modest in the opinion of experts. Let's explore the controversies that accounted for such 'sober' box office receipts.

A series of controversies

Whether it was a lack of chemistry between the leads - Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot - or changes in the script of the original version, or the lead herself... Here, we break down the facts, and you decide which was the final death blow to this movie.

Bad judgement

With a budget of more than 250 million dollars, the film began with high expectations, which were gradually diminished by, among other things, ‘unwise’ statements by the person who played the princess in this film, whose original 1937 version, entitled ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, was Disney's first animated feature film.

'Old-fashioned' and 'weird'

The young actress Zegler called the original version of the film ‘old-fashioned’ and ‘weird’ in interviews; she even went so far as to say that the prince was actually stalking Snow White and that Snow White would not be pining for a man in the new version. Over time, the lead herself has moderated her views on the princess, stating that this story would have more of a feminist leadership approach. However, such statements provoked some of the first criticisms.

Meeting of the generations

Among the major controversies that began to overshadow the film's eagerly awaited premiere was a heated tension between Gadot, an already famed 40-year-old actress, and Zegler, a rising 23-year-old performer. Beyond their generational difference, it was their international political preferences that further confronted them.

Clash of cultures

While Gal is Israeli, Rachel is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. After unveiling the film's trailer at Disney's D23 convention and giving thanks in X, she said: ‘And remember, always, free Palestine'.

I stand with Israel

Gadot, meanwhile, spent two years doing military service in Israel, her home country. On 7 October 2023, following the Hamas attack and Israel's response, she wrote on her Instagram profile:
"I stand with Israel you should too.
The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!".

Roots

"I'm not a hater but rather a grandchild of a Holocaust survivor who came to Israel and established his family from scratch after his entire family was erased in Auschwitz." Gadot said after receiving her star on the Walk of Fame, where she was booed by a pro-Palestinian group.

No hype

Such a culture clash led Disney to decide to make a lacklustre presentation of the film, with no journalists on the red carpet, allowing access only to photographers and press from ABC, the company's television network, in order to avoid questions and, above all, inappropriate or inopportune answers from the stars.

Changing the Snow White stereotype?

In its attempt to revamp its princesses, Disney opted for Zegler, who is of Polish and Colombian origin, which led to criticism for not having chosen an actress who was not as white as snow.

Snow White is left without her seven dwarfs

In 2022, ‘Game of Thrones’ actor Peter Dinklage, who has achondroplasia (a genetic disorder that causes the most common type of dwarfism), said the new adaptation could perpetuate negative stereotypes. On the choice of a female lead of Latin descent, he added: ‘“You’re progressive in one way but you’re still making that f...ng backward story of seven dwarves living in the cave. What the f..k are you doing, man?

Adopting a new approach

Disney then issued a statement indicating that, in order to avoid reinforcing the stereotypes of the original animated film, it was taking a different approach with these seven characters, which is why it ended up creating the seven co-stars with special effects. The decision also generated reactions both for and against.

Put aside romance

Among other changes is the absence of the prince because of the lead's aspiration to be a leadership figure for her people, leaving the romance that characterised the classic story in the background.

They change tunes

The lyrics of the songs ‘Heigh-Ho’ and ‘Whistle While You Work’ were rewritten, ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ was removed, and in its place, new songs were added, such as ‘Waiting on a Wish’, ‘Princess Problems’, ‘Good Things Grow’ and ‘All Is Fair’.

No mention of Gal Gadot

Zegler snubbed Gadot, according to media reports, by sharing several social media posts to commemorate the film's release, in which she thanked the cast and crew she worked with for three summers in London, but left out even a mention of Gadot.

Photo: Instagram Rachel Zegler

Separate promotion

This gesture is in addition to the promotion that each actress has done separately. While Zegler has focused her campaign on social media and media with young audiences, Gadot has maintained a more focused presence in traditional media and recorded interviews.