The recent live-action remake of snow white and the Seven Dwarfs has been met with poor reviews and disappointing box office performances. The film’s CGI dwarfs have been criticized for making the movie feel artificial, and the ending has been described as anticlimactic. With a current score of 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that the film has fallen short of expectations.
Box Office Performance
Despite its poor reviews, Snow White has still managed to make some money at the box office, with a total of $169 million earned worldwide. However, this is not enough to justify the film’s massive budget of $240 million. It’s estimated that Disney will lose hundreds of millions of dollars on the film, making it a significant financial setback for the company.
Impact on Upcoming Remakes
The poor performance of Snow White has had a significant impact on Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes. The film’s poor box office performance has caused Disney to pause production on the Tangled live-action adaptation. The Tangled film was a planned remake of the critically acclaimed 2010 animated movie, and its production has been put on hold indefinitely.
The Tangled Film
The Tangled film was set to be directed by Michael Gracey, who helmed 2017’s The Greatest Showman and the critically acclaimed 2024 Robbie Williams biopic Better Man. While the film’s production has been halted, it is unclear when production will resume. Disney executives are likely still figuring out how to proceed with the film after the major box office flop of Snow White.
Disney’s Live-Action remake strategy
Disney has had a string of live-action remake failures in recent years. The company’s live-action adaptations of classic and recent animated movies have not been the box office juggernauts that Disney was hoping for. For example, while 2023’s The Little Mermaid made $569 million at the worldwide box office, its massive $240 million budget means that Disney did not make that much money from the film. Similarly, 2019’s Dumbo only made $353 million on a budget of $170 million.
Disney’s Live-Action Remake Strategy
It’s clear that Disney is not making as much money with its live-action remakes as it once was at the box office. The company’s recent live-action films have been critical failures, with most of them receiving “Rotten” scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, Disney still plans to move forward with several upcoming live-action remakes, including Lilo & Stich, which is set to be released on May 23, 2025, and the live-action Moana film, which is currently set for a July 10, 2026 release date.
Looking Ahead
Disney still has several upcoming live-action remakes in development, including Hercules, Robin Hood, The Aristocrats, and Bambi. While these films are likely to be successful, it’s still unclear whether Disney will adjust its live-action remake strategy after the failure of Snow White. In a best-case scenario for Disney, both Lilo & Stitch and the live-action Moana will be successful and get the company back on the right track.
Why Disney Should Pause Live-Action Remakes
While Lilo & Stitch and the live-action Moana may be successful, it may still be best for Disney to take some time to adjust its live-action remake strategy. The company has had a string of live-action remake failures in recent years, and it’s clear that Disney is not making as much money with its live-action remakes as it once was at the box office. Furthermore, the majority of Disney’s recent live-action movies have been critical failures, with most of them receiving “Rotten” scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
| Movie | Budget | Box Office Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Live-Action Snow White | $240 million | $169 million |
| The Little Mermaid | $240 million | $569 million |
| Dumbo | $170 million | $353 million |
In conclusion, the failure of Snow White is a wake-up call for Disney to reevaluate its live-action remake strategy. The film’s poor box office performance and critical reception have had a significant impact on Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes, including the Tangled film. While Lilo & Stitch and the live-action Moana may be successful, it’s still unclear whether Disney will adjust its live-action remake strategy after the failure of Snow White. One thing is certain: Disney needs to avoid more critical and commercial failures if it hopes to regain its footing in the competitive world of live-action remakes.