Disney’s ‘Snow White’ remake on pace to lose $115 million amid Rachel Zegler controversy

New York Post - Apr 1st, 2025

Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White" is poised to incur a significant financial loss of approximately $115 million. Despite its March 21 premiere, the film has struggled to attract audiences, earning just $14.2 million domestically in its second weekend—a dramatic 66% drop—bringing its total worldwide gross to $143.1 million. With forecasts projecting total revenues of $295 million, the film falls short of its $410 million production and marketing costs. Several factors contributed to the inflated budget, including $270 million in production costs affected by industry strikes and a set fire, along with $140 million in promotional and miscellaneous expenses. Controversy surrounding the film's star, Rachel Zegler, has also overshadowed its release. Zegler, who has faced backlash for her comments on political and social issues, criticized the original "Snow White" film and later attempted to retract her statements.

The movie's performance is notably underwhelming compared to other Disney live-action adaptations, such as "Dumbo" and "The Little Mermaid," which despite facing their own controversies, performed better at the box office. "Dumbo" grossed around $353 million globally on a $170 million budget, while "The Little Mermaid" generated $569.6 million against a $250 million budget. The struggles of "Snow White" highlight the challenges Disney faces in revamping its animated classics for modern audiences, especially when combined with external controversies and substantial production hurdles. This situation raises questions about the viability of such large-scale adaptations and their reception in today's complex cultural landscape.

Disney Controversy Box Office Gal Gadot Rachel Zegler Snow White Film Remakes Industry Strikes Israel Gaza

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RATING

5.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging overview of the financial and controversy-related aspects of Disney's 'Snow White' remake, addressing topics of public interest and relevance in the entertainment industry. It presents clear and straightforward information, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the article's impact and credibility are limited by a lack of source attribution and balanced perspectives. The absence of detailed explanations for financial projections and the reliance on unnamed sources affect the accuracy and transparency of the information presented. To enhance its quality, the article would benefit from citing authoritative sources and including a wider range of viewpoints. Despite these limitations, the article successfully highlights key issues in the industry, such as representation and financial viability, contributing to ongoing discussions and debates.

Accuracy

The article makes several factual claims about the financial performance and controversies surrounding Disney's 'Snow White' remake. It states that the film is expected to lose approximately $115 million, which is a significant claim that requires verification from reliable sources. Additionally, the article provides specific figures for the film's box office earnings and projected revenues, such as the $14.2 million domestic earnings in the second weekend and a total worldwide gross of $143.1 million. These numbers need to be cross-checked with official box office data to ensure accuracy.

The article also discusses various controversies involving Rachel Zegler, including her comments on Donald Trump and the Israel-Gaza conflict. While these claims are specific, they require corroboration from credible sources to determine their impact on the film's reception and performance. Moreover, the comparison to other Disney remakes, such as 'Dumbo' and 'The Little Mermaid,' includes financial figures that should be verified against industry reports.

Overall, while the article provides detailed financial and contextual information, the lack of cited sources for these claims affects its accuracy score. More explicit attribution to credible sources would enhance the article's factual reliability.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the financial struggles and controversies surrounding the 'Snow White' remake. It highlights the negative aspects, such as potential financial losses and backlash against Rachel Zegler, without providing a balanced view of any positive elements or responses from Disney or other stakeholders.

While the article mentions the film's projected revenues and comparisons to other Disney remakes, it does not explore any potential cultural or artistic merits of the film. The focus on controversies involving Zegler also lacks balance, as it does not include any defense or alternative perspectives from her or Disney.

In terms of balance, the article could benefit from including a wider range of viewpoints, such as those of industry analysts, fans, or Disney representatives, to provide a more comprehensive picture of the film's reception and performance.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of the financial and controversy-related aspects of the 'Snow White' remake. It organizes information logically, beginning with the financial performance, then moving to controversies, and finally comparing the film to other Disney remakes.

The language is straightforward, making it accessible to a general audience. However, the lack of source attribution and detailed explanations for some claims may lead to confusion or skepticism among readers.

Overall, while the article is clear in its structure and language, additional context and source attribution would enhance its clarity and credibility.

Source quality

The article lacks attribution to specific, credible sources for the financial figures and claims made about the controversies surrounding the film. It references 'distribution sources' and 'sources said' without naming these sources or providing a clear indication of their reliability.

The absence of direct quotes or statements from Disney or Rachel Zegler further diminishes the source quality. Credible reporting would typically include interviews, official statements, or data from recognized industry analysts to support the claims made.

Improving source quality would involve citing authoritative sources, such as box office tracking services, financial analysts, or official statements from those involved in the film's production and marketing.

Transparency

The article provides limited transparency regarding the methodology used to calculate the financial figures and the sources of information. It does not explain how the projected losses or revenues were estimated, nor does it disclose the identity or credentials of the 'distribution sources' mentioned.

There is also a lack of transparency in discussing the controversies involving Rachel Zegler. The article does not provide context or evidence for her comments or the extent of their impact on the film's performance.

Greater transparency could be achieved by clearly explaining the basis for financial projections, identifying sources, and providing context for the controversies discussed.