“Snow White” stumbles again at the box office, losing the top spot amid drama.
“Snow White” no longer reigns supreme at the box office. The Disney live-action remake, starring Rachel Zegler, was knocked off its No. 1 spot in its second weekend. In a surprising turn, Jason Statham’s “A Working Man” claimed the top spot with $15.2 million in its opening weekend, while “Snow White” earned $14.2 million in its second.
For “Snow White,” this marks a significant drop from its $42 million debut last weekend. A steep decline in its second weekend often signals how well a movie will fare in the coming weeks, which is a concerning sign for Disney.
“Snow White’s” box office debut last week was already seen as a letdown compared to other Disney live-action remakes. For context, “The Little Mermaid” opened to $95.5 million, “Beauty and the Beast” debuted with $174.7 million, “Aladdin” started at $91.5 million, and “Cinderella” opened with $67.8 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
“Snow White” faced controversy before its release, with debates surrounding everything from the portrayal of the seven dwarfs to the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, in the lead role. Zegler also stirred up Disney fans by calling the love story in the original “Snow White” “weird” and drew attention for her outspoken opinions on the Israel-Hamas war and the 2024 presidential election.
After thanking fans for watching the “Snow White” trailer last year, the “West Side Story” star shared on X, “And always remember, free Palestine.” Later, in November, Zegler posted on Instagram expressing hope that President Donald Trump and his supporters “never know peace,” for which she later apologized.
In a now-deleted Instagram comment last week, Jonah Platt, son of “Snow White” producer Marc Platt, pointed to Zegler’s political statements as a factor in the film’s box office struggles. He criticized the actress for bringing her personal politics into the film’s promotion, claiming it “clearly hurt the film’s box office.”
“Tens of thousands of people worked on that film, and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires, risking the success of the movie for all the colleagues, crew, and blue-collar workers who rely on it,” Platt added.
It remains unclear whether “Snow White’s” performance signals a waning interest in Disney live-action remakes. However, if that is the case, it should become evident soon, as Disney has another remake set for this summer: “Lilo & Stitch,” coming in May. A live-action version of “Moana” is also slated for release in July 2026.
