Snow White
is not the same story that Walt Disney told in 1937, but the story it tells is seemingly picking up more plaudits from audiences than it did from critics. Although the film’s opening weekend could still be less than magical in terms of box office takings, Snow White’s audience ratings have painted a very different picture to that of its critical reviews from earlier in the week.
Snow White’s journey to screens has not been an easy one. Although it was probably inevitable that the original Disney Princess would find herself on the studio’s list of live-action remakes that they have been pumping out over the last decade, the controversy surrounding the film has probably made it seem like a lost cause on more than one occasion.
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The casting of Rachel Zegler in the titular role drew a lot of criticism and racially driven comments online, like the reactions seen when Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, and the inclusion of the seven dwarfs is a controversy of its own for several reasons. Add into these political views shared by both Zegler and costar Gal Gadot in relation to the Israel-Gaza war, reports of a feud between the two actresses behind the scenes, and a scaled-back premiere that shut out much of the usual media circus, then the picture becomes very murky indeed. Perhaps it is just as well that many audiences don’t seem to care about any of that and have been much more accommodating of the film.
What Have Audiences Said About Snow White?
Verified reviews on Rotten Tomatoes – those that have confirmed ticket purchases ensuring that the reviewer has seen the movie – have been mostly positive, with many hailing the film as another Disney triumph. Currently, the film is holding a very reasonable 71% Popcornmeter score as a result. As one review put it:
“It is a beautiful film to watch with children. I really appreciated the updates to the character of Snow White to someone who wants to lead her country, not just find true love. She knows she can do more than just clean and bake. Her love interest is an interesting young man with similar values of fairness and bravery, not a prince. Some sweet new songs make it even more enjoyable.”
Others have called it “pure old classic Disney magic,” “a visually stunning reimagining,” and “the perfect balance of classic songs and fresh additions, maintaining the original’s essence.” Shining though in the reviews is Zegler’s central performance as Snow White – the one thing that critics all agreed on – and, to a lesser extent, Gadot’s wicked turn as the Evil Queen.
What is apparent more than anything, though, is that this is a movie that is made for Disney’s core audience – children and those who can still enjoy childish things no matter how old they are. Naturally, there are those who still don’t see the necessity for Disney to continue remaking their own movies, and others who either didn’t like the updated story, the CGI drawfs, or the new songs. But overall, the reviews are creating a more positive vibe around the movie than it has seen in the weeks leading up to its release. How this translates into box office takings is something that will be seen in the next few weeks, but regardless of that, there are many more Disney live-action remakes heading down the line, and nothing is going to stop them.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Disney’s Snow White
- Release Date
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March 19, 2025
- Director
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Marc Webb
- Producers
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Callum McDougall, Marc Platt
