Disney’s ambitious live-action remake of “Snow White” has proven to be a significant financial disappointment for the studio, reportedly losing approximately $170 million, according to filings revealed this week. The film, starring Rachel Zegler, faced a barrage of controversy even before its release, and those headwinds appear to have translated into a substantial box office underperformance.
The financial woes stem from a remarkably high production budget, which reached a staggering $336.5 million. This figure, detailed in filings due to the film being shot in the United Kingdom and subject to its unique financial regulations, positions “Snow White” as one of Disney’s most expensive films ever made, exceeding the costs associated with projects like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
The UK’s film reimbursement laws, while beneficial in offering tax rebates, also require transparency in expenditures. Disney established a subsidiary, Hidden Heart Productions, to facilitate filming in the UK, inadvertently revealing the extent of its spending. Caroline Reid, a contributor who initially reported on the escalating costs in Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper, noted that by July 31, 2022, Disney had already spent $183.3 million on the film, even before principal photography was completed.
While Disney received a tax rebate of approximately $77 million (roughly 1.09 trillion Indonesian Rupiah) due to filming in the UK, the net production cost still amounted to around $259.5 million (approximately 4.58 trillion Indonesian Rupiah). Globally, the film grossed around $205 million (roughly 3.46 trillion Indonesian Rupiah). However, Disney’s share of that revenue is significantly reduced by the standard 50/50 split with cinema owners, leaving the studio with approximately $102.9 million (roughly 1.73 trillion Indonesian Rupiah).
The resulting deficit of $170 million (approximately 2.85 trillion Indonesian Rupiah) doesn’t even account for the substantial marketing and advertising costs associated with a film of this scale, which are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of Rupiah.
Several factors contributed to the film’s failure to resonate with audiences. Controversy surrounding Rachel Zegler’s comments regarding the original 1937 animated film sparked backlash from devoted fans. Disney’s initial plans to replace the iconic Seven Dwarfs with “magical creatures” – a decision that was later reversed following criticism and requiring costly reshoots – added to the production’s financial burden. A significant fire at Pinewood Studios during production also contributed to increased expenses.
The changes to the story, intended to modernize the classic tale, appear to have alienated a portion of the core audience while failing to attract a significantly larger new one. The studio’s attempts to address criticism through reshoots ultimately proved costly and didn’t salvage the film’s performance.
Despite the “Snow White” debacle, Disney experienced a brighter spot in 2025 with the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which reportedly grossed over $1.8 billion (approximately 17 trillion Indonesian Rupiah), offering a degree of consolation for the studio’s overall performance.
The “Snow White” failure raises questions about Disney’s strategy of relying heavily on live-action remakes of its animated classics. While some have proven successful, others, like this recent iteration, have struggled to justify their enormous budgets and have faced criticism for deviating too far from the source material. The studio will likely be re-evaluating its approach to these projects in light of this significant loss.
The situation also underscores the challenges facing Hollywood in attracting audiences to theaters, particularly for films that generate pre-release controversy. The high cost of production and marketing, coupled with the increasing competition from streaming services, means that even a moderately underperforming film can result in substantial financial losses.
Disney’s experience with “Snow White” serves as a cautionary tale for the industry, highlighting the importance of balancing creative vision with audience expectations and maintaining fiscal responsibility in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.