You probably haven't missed the complete failure of the live-action adaptation of Snow White, currently showing in theaters. Starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the film was almost unanimously panned by critics and audiences, and the box office suffered... A critical situation for Disney, which is reminiscent of one of the studios' most resounding flops, released in theaters just 13 years ago.
Snow White: the story of a costly flop
Nothing, from the controversies that marked its conception to its total absence of any cinematic quality, does not right the ship of this Snow White. Between the countless controversies generated by its leading stars, whose opposing views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict speak volumes about their disagreement, to Rachel Zegler's haughty and derogatory remarks about the 1937 work, the film's gestation did not bode well for an open-armed public reception.
Add to that special effects that would make you lose the use of both eyes and a Gal Gadot determined not to go out of her way to give her villainous character a minimum of credibility, and you'll understand that Disney had no chance of saving the money invested in Snow White. Because yes, this Snow White cost a lot! According to the New York Times website, the studios' claims of a $270 million budget are far from reality. Between reshoots, rewrites, and having to make CGI dwarves after Peter Dinklage's outburst, it's no wonder the budget exploded, approaching, according to our colleagues, the crazy sum of 350 million dollars (not including marketing!)...
To be profitable, Snow White would have to collect around 800 million dollars worldwide: as you might expect, that's impossible. With its rating worse than that of Dragon Ball Evolution, previously considered the worst live-action adaptation in history, the film won't even be self-financing. Since its theatrical release, it has grossed $145 million worldwide. This lunar failure is reminiscent of that of John Carter in 2012, one of the biggest flops for the company with the big ears.
Snow White, a new John Carter for Disney?
Remember: it was thirteen years ago, yet you'd swear it was yesterday. Adapted from A Princess of Mars, the science fiction novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the film had, on paper, everything going for it. However, the production was laborious. Andrew Stanton (Toy Story, Finding Nemo) reshot much of the film twice, and the film's special effects had to be adapted to those of Avatar, which were as revolutionary as they were expensive. Unaccustomed to live-action, the director nevertheless used to ask his colleagues at Pixar for advice, further distancing him from a suitable result.
As for the marketing campaign, it is renowned as one of the worst in the history of cinema. The intriguing and captivating fictional universe appreciated by readers, the abundant action, and the good looks of Taylor Kitsch were not enough to attract audiences to theaters, and Disney did nothing to change the situation. Robert Iger, the CEO, was in the process of buying Lucasfilm, and had other fish to fry. Suddenly, establishing a new franchise wasn't so useful to him, as he was about to bring Star Wars back into his fold. Moreover, in the early 2010s, science fiction/fantasy wasn't exactly popular, with Cowboys and Aliens and Conan not having the expected success. For an estimated budget of $350 million, John Carter only grossed $282 million!
Andrew Stanton's John Carter was released 12 years ago today.
— The Spaceshipper (@TheSpaceshipper) March 9, 2024
Let's fight. pic.twitter.com/4CeSFdt2Sj
Like John Carter back then, but for different reasons, Snow White comes at a bad time for Disney. In 2012, the launch of a new science fiction/fantasy saga had ceased to be a priority during production, with Star Wars swelling the studio ranks. In 2025, the inclusive and "woke" approach taken by the company a few years ago is now less relevant. Disney has recently shown a desire to return to "pure entertainment," and this backpedaling doesn't help a version of Snow White played by an actress of Colombian origin.
And you, do you think Snow White will be as huge a flop as John Carter?
0 Comments