Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025) was meant to be a triumphant revival of a classic fairy tale. Instead, it became a box-office disaster, scoring a historic low of 1.7 on IMDb – a humiliating result for a $270 million production.
The film’s problems began with its controversial casting. Rachel Zegler’s portrayal of Snow White sparked immediate backlash, with many fans questioning how a Latina actress could embody a character literally named for her snow-white complexion. Disney’s explanation – that the name came from being born on a snowy night rather than her skin tone – satisfied few. Meanwhile, Gal Gadot’s stunning beauty as the Evil Queen made the central “fairest of them all” conflict feel laughably unconvincing.
The film’s narrative struggled with identity crisis. It attempted to modernize Snow White as an independent heroine while awkwardly preserving traditional elements like the poison apple and true love’s kiss. This resulted in a protagonist whose empowerment felt half-baked and inconsistent. The Queen’s characterization suffered similarly – despite possessing immense magical power, she employed an absurdly convoluted assassination plot that made her seem incompetent rather than threatening.
Disney’s well-intentioned but clumsy approach to representation backfired spectacularly. The dwarfs, originally meant to be played by actors with dwarfism, were replaced with CGI creations after early backlash. This decision pleased no one – it angered disability advocates while producing visually unappealing characters that lacked the charm of the original. The addition of a “diverse band of outlaws” felt like tokenism rather than meaningful inclusion.
Amidst this creative disaster, the Mandarin version of “Wish from the Heart” performed by Curley G emerged as the film’s sole artistic bright spot. The hauntingly beautiful ballad provided a brief moment of genuine emotion in an otherwise disappointing production.
Snow White 2025 represents Disney’s ongoing struggle to balance tradition with contemporary sensibilities. In trying to please everyone, the film satisfied no one. Its failure suggests that audiences are growing weary of heavy-handed political messaging that isn’t supported by strong storytelling. Unless Disney refocuses on narrative quality over performative representation, more expensive disappointments likely await in their live-action remake pipeline.
