Le remake de Blanche-Neige de Disney peine à trouver son public après un lancement doux au box-office

Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025), directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler as the titular princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has officially launched with a disappointing opening weekend, marking one of the weakest debuts in Disney’s recent string of live-action remakes.

📉 Box Office Numbers (Per Comscore):

• Domestic (US & Canada): $43 million
• International: $44.3 million
• Global Total: $87.3 million

Despite topping the North American box office chart for the weekend, the film fell short of expectations—particularly when compared to earlier live-action Disney remakes:

• 2019 The Lion King: $184.7M opening (domestic)
• 2017 Beauty and the Beast: $174.8M opening
• 2016 The Jungle Book: $103.2M opening
• 2023 The Little Mermaid: $102.5M opening
• 2019 Dumbo: $45M opening (slightly ahead of Snow White’s debut)

Even more telling: Snow White failed to surpass the $45 million opening of Dumbo, which, despite being considered a commercial disappointment at the time, still outperformed the 2025 version.

💰 Financial Context:

• Reported production budget: Over $250 million
• Marketing spend (estimated): Likely hundreds of millions (exact figures not public, but standard for a Disney flagship release)
• Profitability threshold: At minimum, a global gross of $600–700 million would be needed to break even, factoring in marketing and distribution.

With just $87.3 million in global receipts, Snow White is far from that mark—especially as it faces stiff competition from Captain America: Brave New World, which has already grossed $400.8 million globally after six weeks and shows no signs of slowing.

🌍 Why the Underperformance?

Several factors may be at play:

• Mixed audience reception: While IGN gave it a 7/10, praising its "thoughtful" reinvention, some fans criticized the film for straying too far from the original tone and story, particularly in the portrayal of the Evil Queen and Snow White’s character arc.
• Casting controversies: Rachel Zegler’s casting as Snow White drew early backlash from some long-time fans who felt she didn’t match the "classic" image, despite her strong performance.
• Market fatigue: The live-action remake boom has slowed. Audiences are increasingly wary of reboots that feel overly polished or emotionally detached.
• Competition: Captain America: Brave New World is a strong contender in the same space—Marvel’s superhero dominance continues to overshadow other franchises.

✨ A Glimmer of Hope?

Disney isn’t giving up. The studio has a track record of slow-burn successes:

• Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), a prequel to the 2019 remake, opened to just $35.4M domestically but went on to earn $717 million worldwide—a testament to Disney’s ability to build momentum over time.

If Snow White follows a similar path—gaining traction through word-of-mouth, streaming, and merchandise—the film could still find a profitable life beyond its opening weekend.

🔮 Final Take:

While Snow White’s opening is a box office stumble, it’s not a total failure. With strong performances, a $250M+ budget, and a global franchise in its pocket, Disney may still ride it to success—if audiences give it a second chance.

For now, the film serves as a cautionary tale: even a beloved classic needs more than nostalgia to win over today’s audiences.

💬 “Disney’s live-action Snow White delivers a thoughtful adaptation of the original, avoiding a mere imitation.” – IGN, 7/10

But in today’s market, thoughtful isn’t always blockbuster.