Disney set to lose millions as Snow White scandal tarnishes brand
Snow White movie (screenshot)
The scandals surrounding the Snow White film starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot in the lead roles have led to significant losses. Recent media reports show that Disney could lose millions of dollars due to poor box office earnings and mixed reactions from viewers.
New estimates show that Disney could lose $115 million after all showings of Snow White. The film’s production cost $270 million, and total expenses, including marketing, reached $410 million.
The film’s estimated total earnings are around $295 million, accounting for box office revenues, streaming, television, and merchandise sales.
While the film topped the box office on its opening weekend, it became Disney’s least successful remake. For comparison, The Little Mermaid and The Jungle Book both started with over $100 million, and films like Aladdin (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Lion King (2019) crossed the $1 billion mark.
Shot from the Snow White movie (screenshot)
The animated version of the original 1937 classic was not a hit among critics either, receiving only 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience gave it a rating of 74%. However, on IMDb, the film received a rating of 1.5 out of 10.
At the same time, experts believe that things could still change. The release of "Snow White" on the Disney+ streaming platform could attract a different audience and, with discussions on social media, give it new life.
Snow White scandals
The new version of the story has faced significant backlash. Many were unhappy with the casting of Rachel Zegler in the lead role due to her Colombian heritage. The fire was further fueled by the actress's comments on the 1937 original. She criticized the fairy tale for outdated stereotypes regarding the role of women and called the love story with the prince strange, as he pursues the heroine.
The situation also escalated into political battles. Rachel "attacked" Trump supporters, later apologizing for it. She then expressed support for Palestine. Meanwhile, the actress playing the Evil Queen, Gal Gadot, supported Israel. This created not only more tension around the film but also protests from both sides. The issue with the seven dwarfs also became a heated topic, as the creators replaced them with magical creatures using computer graphics in response to criticism.
The musical film Snow White was directed by Mark Webb, with a script by Greta Gerwig, who created the hit movie Barbie, and Erin Cressida Wilson. The film is a cinematic adaptation of the animated movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, based on the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale of the same name.
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Sources: Deadline, DailyMail, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB.
