Disney Snow White Backlash: Box Office Bomb or “Woke” Disaster?
By Ved Thakor, Covenze.com
🍎 Key Takeaways
- Audience Score: A dismal 0.6/10 on Metacritic, the lowest for a Disney film in years.
- Box Office Ice Age: Projected $40M opening weekend, far below expectations.
- Controversy Storm: Rachel Zegler’s political remarks and cultural critiques fuel boycotts.
- Critics vs. Fans: Critics shrug (“meh”), while fans rage-quit.
Disney Snow White Backlash Explained: From Casting Drama to Box Office Woes
Disney’s latest live-action remake isn’t just missing magic—it’s dodging tomatoes. The studio’s Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler, has become a lightning rod for criticism, with its Metacritic audience score cratering to 0.6 (yes, you read that right). But how did a beloved fairy tale turn into a PR-poisoned apple?
The backlash started brewing long before release. Zegler, known for her role in West Side Story, faced heat for publicly criticizing Donald Trump supporters in 2022, calling some of his policies “backwards.” While political statements aren’t new in Hollywood, fans argued her comments clashed with Snow White’s apolitical, “happily ever after” vibe. Then came the leaks: reports of a “feminist overhaul” that axed the dwarfs (replacing them with magical creatures) and tweaked the prince’s role. Nostalgia purists revolted.
This is why Disney is about to lose 300Mpic.twitter.com/2NnKRUWb4R
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 21, 2025
Rachel Zegler’s Role: How Politics Became the Poisoned Apple
Let’s address the elephant in the kingdom: Rachel Zegler’s off-screen drama. In interviews, the actress didn’t hold back, calling the original 1937 film “creepy” and “stalker-ish.” While she’s not wrong (the prince does kiss a coma-prone teen), fans accused her of “shaming” the classic. Then came the Trump remarks, which resurfaced in TikTok clips with millions of views.
Twitter erupted with hashtags like #BoycottSnowWhite, while conservative pundits labeled the film “woke propaganda.” One viral meme showed Zegler’s Snow White handing Trump a rotten apple with the caption: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the least box office of them all?” 🍏
But Zegler isn’t the first Disney star to face heat. Remember the racist trolling against Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid)? The difference? Bailey’s backlash was about representation; Zegler’s is about politics vs. nostalgia—a trickier spell to break.
This is the ending scene in the new Snow White. Absolute garbage. pic.twitter.com/B4psipP5Wd
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 22, 2025
Box Office Freeze: Why ‘Snow White’ Is Struggling to Find Its Audience
Disney’s betting big on live-action remakes (*8.7Bearnedsince2010∗),but∗SnowWhite∗’strackingfora∗∗mid−8.7Bearnedsince2010∗),but∗SnowWhite∗’strackingfora∗∗mid−40M opening**—lower than Maleficent (69M)and∗Cruella∗(69M)and∗Cruella∗(48M). Ouch. Here’s the breakdown:
| Film | Opening Weekend | Total Global Box Office |
|---|---|---|
| The Lion King | $191M | $1.6B |
| Aladdin | $91M | $1.05B |
| Snow White | ~$45M (projected) | TBD |
Insiders blame scaled-back marketing. Disney reportedly slashed promo budgets after test screenings sparked concerns about “cultural sensitivity.” Instead of flooding TikTok with dwarfs dancing to Beyoncé, they played it safe—and audiences stayed home.
Cultural Debates: Modern Storytelling vs. Nostalgia Purists
Disney’s stuck between a rock and a magic mirror. Modernize the story, and you alienate purists; stick to tradition, and you’re “out of touch.” Snow White tried both—and failed. Key changes causing outrage:
- The Dwarfs Dilemma: Replaced with a diverse group of magical beings (no names, just pronouns).
- Snow White’s Ambition: Now a “girlboss” aspiring to be a leader, not just a housecleaner.
- Prince Charming’s Role: Reduced to a cameo.
“Disney’s trying to have it both ways,” says film historian Dr. Clara Nguyen. “You can’t sell nostalgia while dismantling it. Audiences smell the hypocrisy.”
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I chatted with L.A. Times critic Carlos Mendez, who quipped: “This isn’t a flop—it’s a flop flop. But Disney+ might save it. Subscribers love hate-watching.”
Fashion critic Amina Jones notes Zegler’s red carpet looks (all bold, feminist gowns) clashed with Snow White’s “timeless” vibe. “Her press tour wardrobe screamed ‘activist,’ not ‘Disney princess.’ Branding matters.”
The silver lining? If Mulan (2020) taught us anything, it’s that streaming can Band-Aid box office wounds. But with a reported $200M budget, Snow White needs more than a pixelated prince to break even.
Got thoughts? Slide into our DMs @Covenze. We don’t bite—unless you’re a poisoned apple. 🍎
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