Disney's live-action Snow White remake has fallen short of expectations at the box office, opening with a disappointing $43 million domestically and $87.3 million globally.
The film, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, faces a steep climb to profitability against its massive $250 million production budget.
Initial projections had suggested the film would reach $100 million globally in its opening weekend, but it fell significantly short of that target.
Despite topping the weekend box office charts, the remake's underwhelming performance has raised questions about Disney's strategy of mining its animated classics for live-action remakes.
Rachel Zegler played the lead in Disney's Snow White remarke
PAThe film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 43 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Snow White's $43 million domestic opening falls below Tim Burton's Dumbo, which debuted with $45 million in 2019 and was considered a major disappointment.
The performance pales in comparison to Disney's more successful live-action remakes like The Lion King, which opened to $191 million domestically, and Beauty and the Beast with $174 million.
The Little Mermaid launched with $95 million last year despite also facing backlash over casting.
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Snow White's opening box office numbers haven't lived up to Disney's hopes
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If the film follows Dumbo's trajectory, which finished with $353 million globally, it would represent a significant financial loss for Disney.
Snow White has been mired in controversy since production began, with backlash initially focusing on Zegler's casting due to her Colombian heritage.
The actress further provoked criticism when she described the original 1937 film as "dated" and said the remake wouldn't feature a princess "dreaming about true love" or being "saved by the prince".
Disney's handling of the seven dwarfs also sparked controversy, with actor Peter Dinklage calling it "backwards" to tell a story about "seven dwarfs living in a cave".
The film faced additional tensions due to its stars' opposing views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Israeli-born Gadot supporting Israel while Zegler expressed support for Palestinians.
These controversies led Disney to scale back the film's premiere and press access.
The film's production was plagued with additional challenges, including delays, reshoots, and a reported fire on set.
Disney's decision to animate the dwarfs using CGI rather than casting actors with dwarfism was criticised for denying employment opportunities.
The studio renamed them "magical creatures" in an attempt to address concerns.
The controversy led to Disney conducting a heavily stripped-back premiere at a remote castle in Spain rather than a traditional red carpet event.
Disney's remake strategy now faces serious questions, with several more live-action adaptations in the pipeline including Moana in July 2026 and Lilo & Stitch next May.
Despite the disappointing start, Disney may find hope in the example of Mufasa: The Lion King, which opened to just $35 million but eventually climbed to over $700 million worldwide.
