The reputation of Disney live-action films has never been so negative. The big-eared company has bombarded its audiences with productions devoid of soul and meaning, until they can't stop crying. As a result, Snow White is already the victim of unparalleled animosity, even though the film hasn't even been shown in our theaters yet. And at the same time, only three months after Mufasa, who wants to go and tear out their retinas and eardrums in a dark room for an ever-increasing admission price? To make matters worse, this new remake has suffered from a promotional campaign bordering on intentional sabotage. When the child doesn't cry wolf, the public cries wokeism.
No one wants yet another film drowning in questionable special effects, there's no doubt about that. But is the new princess's complexion a tangible enough clue to sniff out disaster? The weariness caused by Disney's live-action films quickly served as a catalyst for other, sometimes borderline unreasonable, claims. While some are already touting Snow White as the most hated film of 2025, let's take the time to put aside our prejudices to analyze the situation accurately. Because while we also gave in to the general panic to the point of reluctantly going to the cinema, our post-screening impressions are not what we expected.
A daring but effective reinvention
Tackling a classic like Snow White is no easy feat. This feature film not only marked the history of the studio, but also revolutionized the film industry. This animated, song-filled fairy tale laid the foundation for a genre that still amazes us today. It's no wonder audiences are desperate to protect it. Just as Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel caused a stir a few years ago, introducing Snow White as Rachel Zegler (West Side Story / The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Serpent and the Songbird) was enough to inflame some audiences. Yet, while the original tale mentions the princess's "snow-white" skin, the 1937 adaptation merely mentions her beauty, both inner and outer, a source of the Evil Queen's jealousy.
And the remake quickly proves that Rachel Zegler is the perfect representation of a modern Snow White. Because yes, this princess desperately needed a reboot to compete with her more recent sisters. What child today would choose Snow White as their favorite princess when Merida and Moana exist? On the almost too simple foundations of the original feature film, Disney manages to build a heroine who is still as sweet and caring as ever, but who can finally honor these qualities in other ways than by charming a prince who is as silly as possible.
We then take pleasure in discovering a charismatic but true to herself Snow White, at the heart of an adventure that perhaps draws a little too much of its inspiration from another icon of the studio: Rapunzel. In addition to the dwarves (who are ultimately very convincing, by the way), the protagonist also meets an endearing group of bandits, whose leader replaces the original prince that everyone has forgotten. The story structure therefore manages to keep us on the edge of our seats without distorting the cult elements of the classic film, a finding that also applies to the songs.
A new musical identity as well
Where Lin-Manuel Miranda rested on his laurels for the live-action prequel to The Lion King, the composers and lyricists of this new Snow White have pulled out all the stops. After working wonders on The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have once again outdone themselves. Think the new wave of Disney songs won't surprise you anymore? This film has what you need. Heigh-Ho and Whistle While You Work are more catchy than ever and are accompanied by new tracks that are just as effective. These also help to bring Snow White into a new era. With epic musical moments worthy of Moana and ballads on the level of Tangled and Frozen, the very first Disney princess is finally no longer out of style.
And it's also through singing that Rachel Zegler manages to make this important role her own. This actress, born to shine on Broadway, enchants us with each of her vocal performances. The duality between sweetness and emancipation, specific to this version of Snow White, is also felt in the interpretations offered by the artist. The songs blend naturally with the storyline as well as the atmosphere and never seem out of place.
Bad habits persist
The majority of criticisms made before the launch turn out to be unfounded, but this remake is far from perfect nonetheless. Yes, Rachel Zegler is a convincing Snow White and deserves her role. No, the dwarves are not nightmarish and are even well animated and interpreted. On the other hand, Disney is still incapable of concocting an effective artistic direction for its live action. The studio made the effort to correct the lack of color and light that has been too often criticized, but at what cost? The intentions are good, the technique a little less so. While some scenes—like Snow White's encounter with the animals—manage to transcribe the aesthetic of the classic with the help of computer-generated images, other moments seem patched together with a green screen and a dream.
The visuals are uneven and too easily break the immersion in this modernized tale, which is nonetheless full of good ideas. Is it the fault of the too many additional shoots organized in response to the bad buzz? A few questionable artistic choices keep giving rise to theories throughout the session. For example, were the costumes exaggerated to reinforce Snow White's retro character, or is it simply a matter of bad taste? Luckily, Rachel Zegler shows enough poise to assume her wig, which could almost be described as criminal. Speaking of offenses, Gal Gadot's performance as the Evil Queen deserves to be punished.
“Magic mirror on the wall, who has perfect and pure beauty?” Here, the antagonist should worry about his lack of talent. If there's a casting error in this remake, it's obvious. Gal Gadot is incapable of inspiring fear or even singing without autotune; that's a zero. The Evil Queen is more like a capricious rich girl straight out of a flop, reinforcing the tradition of lack of effort in live-action films. Disney is going through this new quarter with encouragement, but will have to redouble its efforts to fully rediscover its magic and deserve the accolades.
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