Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Tanks: Projections Plunge by $22M Below Expectations!

The anticipated box office performance for the upcoming Snow White film appears to be declining as its release date nears. This new version is a reimagining of Disney’s 1937 classic, the first animated feature film made in the U.S. The remake features Rachel Zegler as Snow White, a beautiful young woman who incites the wrath of the Evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot, who is obsessed with being the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. The film includes beloved songs from the original by Larry Morey and Frank Churchill, with additional new songs by the duo Pasek and Paul.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, current forecasts suggest that Snow White will open with a domestic box office gross of $48 to $58 million. This represents a significant drop, potentially $22 million less than earlier projections which estimated an opening between $63 and $70 million as of February 7.

Implications for Snow White

Uncertain Future

The revised opening figures raise concerns about the film’s success. Should Snow White open at the lower end of its current range, with $48 million, it would still rank as the second highest-grossing domestic debut of 2025 to that date, only behind Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million). Despite this, a lower opening would continue a troubling pattern for recent Disney live-action adaptations, marking the poorest domestic debut since Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, which opened at $45.9 million in 2019. Below is a comparison of box office performances for Disney’s recent live-action remakes:

Whether Snow White will follow a trajectory similar to The Little Mermaid or experience substantial growth like the holiday release of Mufasa: The Lion King remains uncertain. Based on its current forecasts, the film could gross between approximately $285.9 million and $500 million globally. However, with a reported production budget near $250 million, it would need to generate around $625 million to break even—a target that The Little Mermaid didn’t achieve.

Analysis of Snow White Projections

Quick Recovery Expected for Disney

While Snow White might turn out to be one of Disney’s less successful live-action remakes at launch, its potential underperformance could be attributed to various controversies, including the depiction of the “seven dwarfs,” criticisms from Zegler about the original film, and other issues. Nevertheless, Disney is likely to rebound swiftly, with upcoming remakes like Lilo & Stitch in May and Moana in 2026, both of which are expected to be major hits.