Disney’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Snow White has opened to mixed results at the North American box office.
Despite a star-studded cast that includes Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the film earned $3.5 million in previews. It is projected to gross approximately $45 million during its opening weekend, which falls short of the initial expectations of $50 million.
The film’s debut mirrors the opening of Tim Burton’s Dumbo, which grossed just under $46 million in its first three days. However, Snow White carries a significantly higher production budget of $270 million compared to Dumbo’s $170 million. Early reports indicate that young girls make up a significant portion of the audience, with 84% of children attending being girls.
‘SNOW WHITE’ earned $3.5M from Thursday previews at the domestic box office.
For comparison, ‘Dumbo’ ($2.6M), ‘Maleficent 2’ ($2.3M), ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ ($3.8M).
The film had a $240M budget. pic.twitter.com/RJI7AZClUS
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) March 21, 2025Critics have been lukewarm, with Snow White holding a 46% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite strong awareness levels (94%), interest from key demographics, particularly women under 35, has dropped to 52% from 58% in recent weeks.
Disney's first animated feature film, Snow White is back on the big screen battling for top spot at the box office. https://t.co/TWh1KQh9q4 @SallyBowrey7 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/BoujTZWSl1
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 21, 2025The film’s initial buzz was overshadowed by controversies surrounding casting choices and the reimagining of beloved characters like the dwarfs. However, Disney’s live-action adaptations have historically overcome mixed reviews, with films like Maleficent and Aladdin opening strong despite similar challenges.
Read: Disney Adopts New Premiere Format for “Snow White” Amid Controversies
The film’s international performance will be crucial to its success, though it faces competition from other releases like The Alto Knights and Ash. The coming weekend will be pivotal in determining whether Snow White can exceed expectations or settle for a modest opening.
