Cliff Notes
- Disney’s live-action “Snow White” secured $43 million domestically and $87.3 million worldwide, despite controversies and mixed reviews leading to an overall low critic score of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- There has also been rumours Gal Gadot used her Israeli influence to ‘keep other actors in check’
- The film faced backlash over its casting decisions, CGI use for dwarf characters, and remarks made by lead actress Rachel Zegler about the film’s outdated themes, which were perceived as “woke”.
- Compared to previous Disney live-action remakes, “Snow White” performed below expectations, notably struggling in the Chinese market where it grossed less than $1 million.
Snow White: Blighted by controversy, but Disney live-action remake still tops box office
Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves has topped the North American box office chart, despite a controversy-packed run-up to the film’s release.
Based on the 1937 classic that established Disney’s name as an industry leader, Snow White took an estimated $43m (£33.1) domestically, and $87.3m (£67.3) worldwide according to Box Office Mojo.
For comparison, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, which came to cinemas in December, took $35m domestically (£27m). It’s now gone on to take over $700m (£540m) globally.
Meanwhile, Disney’s 2019 live-action Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, took $45m (£35m) domestically in its opening weekend. It has since taken over $350m (£270m) worldwide.
Snow White hasn’t performed well in China, only making it to seventh place in the Chinese box office charts and grossing less than $1m (£770,000) over its opening, according to EntGroup’s China Box Office website.
Reviews for the movie have been mixed, with The Guardian calling it an “exhaustingly awful reboot” and The Observer similarly judging it to be “toe-curlingly terrible”.
The Independent wasn’t a fan of the “uncanny CGI caricatures” which it said were reminiscent of 2004 movie The Polar Express, a sentiment echoed by Empire which called the reimagined dwarves an “unholy VFX disaster”.
The Daily Mail called it “painfully muddle-headed”, but gave Zegler the thumbs up, highlighting her “oodles of talent”, while The New York Post said it was “mediocre” and unmemorable.
Some US outlets have given a more favourable critique, with Variety calling it “one of the better live-action adaptations of a Disney animated feature,” and The Hollywood Reporter judging it “mostly captivating”.
Reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie a 44% critic score – which translates to “rotten” – however the audience score on the site’s “Popcornometer” is currently at 74%, rating it “fresh”.