Disney's Snow White Bombs? Theaters Sit EMPTY for Rachel Zegler's Remake

Box Office FLOP? Snow White Struggles as Theaters Remain Empty

Disney’s Snow White remake starring Rachel Zegler has been plagued by controversy for nearly two years, and now, as the movie finally hits theaters, the box office outlook is looking grim. Despite Disney’s frantic last-minute efforts to salvage the film’s reputation, early ticket sales suggest that audiences aren’t showing up. Could this be the studio’s latest catastrophic flop?

A History of Controversy

Disney’s Snow White has faced an uphill battle from the start. The backlash began when behind-the-scenes images leaked, revealing that Disney had replaced the seven dwarfs with a diverse group of actors, some of whom were neither dwarfs nor even resembling their animated counterparts. The decision, which Disney claimed was aimed at modernizing the story, left many fans confused and upset.

Then, there was Rachel Zegler herself. The West Side Story actress sparked outrage when she made dismissive comments about the original 1937 film, calling it “dated” and saying that Prince Charming was a “stalker.” She doubled down by stating that the new Snow White would be an independent woman who “doesn’t need a prince.” While progressive changes aren’t new for Disney, Zegler’s tone struck many as condescending, and the backlash was fierce.

Things only got worse as Zegler continued making divisive political statements, including telling Trump supporters she didn’t want them seeing the movie. This alienated a massive portion of potential viewers and contributed to a growing boycott movement.

Disney's Desperate Damage Control

As the release date approached, Disney scrambled to change the narrative. The red carpet premiere in Hollywood was toned down significantly, with media access restricted and no interviews with Zegler—an unusual move for a lead actress. The studio likely feared that any off-script comments could further damage the film’s chances.

Disney also pushed positive early reviews from select critics who praised Zegler’s performance, hoping to turn the tide. Yet, despite these efforts, the damage had already been done.

Theaters Are Empty—A Box Office Disaster?

With all the controversy, the real test for Snow White was always going to be its box office performance. And early indicators suggest Disney should be very, very worried.

Numerous reports from moviegoers checking their local theaters have shown shockingly low ticket sales. In major cities across the U.S. and Canada, including Washington D.C., Salt Lake City, and Montreal, showtimes remain nearly empty, even in IMAX and prime-time weekend slots.

Some of the most staggering reports include:

• Tyson’s Corner 16 in Virginia: A major theater in the D.C. metro area had virtually no seats sold for a Saturday 5:30 PM show—prime family movie time.
• Salt Lake City, Utah: Multiple showings remain largely unsold, including opening night screenings.
• Montreal, Canada: One of the busiest theaters in the city showed nearly empty seating charts for the film’s debut weekend.
• Los Angeles & Orlando: Even in cities known for strong Disney fan bases, many showings had only a handful of seats sold.

Box office projections currently place Snow White’s opening weekend earnings at $45-58 million, a dismal number for a high-profile Disney release. Even the most optimistic estimates—around $60-70 million—would be far below the $118 million The Little Mermaid (2023) made in its opening weekend. And considering that The Little Mermaid struggled to turn a profit, Snow White is looking even worse.

Why Is This Happening?

There are several reasons why audiences are rejecting Snow White:

1. Rachel Zegler’s Controversial Persona
   Fans have long memories, and Zegler’s repeated criticism of the original film, along with her political statements, alienated a significant portion of potential moviegoers.
2. Fatigue with Disney Remakes
   Disney’s live-action remakes have been increasingly criticized for being uninspired cash grabs. While some (The Jungle Book, Cinderella) were well-received, others (Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan & Wendy) have been widely panned.
3. A Lackluster Marketing Campaign
   Outside of controversy, Disney has struggled to generate excitement for Snow White. With the film’s embargo lifted at the last possible moment, many are assuming the worst.
4. A Box Office Slump for Disney
   Recent Disney releases (Wish, The Marvels) have severely underperformed. Audiences appear increasingly disinterested in Disney’s current direction.

Will Snow White Bomb?

While Disney can still hope for strong walk-in ticket sales, the outlook isn’t great. Even with a slightly higher-than-expected debut, the film’s high budget and marketing costs mean it needs to make at least $500-600 million worldwide to break even. Right now, that seems highly unlikely.

If Snow White does flop, it will be another sign that Disney’s magic touch is fading fast. Will this be a wake-up call for the studio? Or will they continue doubling down on their current approach, ignoring audiences in favor of pushing their own agenda?

Time will tell, but for now, it looks like Snow White is shaping up to be one of Disney’s biggest disasters in years.

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