Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Faces Criticism and Likely Record Low Opening Weekend

Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Faces Criticism and Likely Record Low Opening Weekend

Walt Disney Studios is bracing for a challenging launch as its new film, Snow White, struggles to gain traction in theaters. Early forecasts predict it will achieve the lowest opening weekend among the studio’s live-action remakes.

The movie is facing an onslaught of negative reviews, contributing to its troubled reception. Critic David Fear from Rolling Stone summed up his feelings by quipping that the film might earn points for being a bedtime story, as it is sure to put audiences to sleep.

Negative Reception from Critics

The reception from audiences appears to vary. While the film holds an unfavorable 44% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, it maintains a more favorable audience score of 74%. Despite the positive audience reactions, mainstream critics have taken to social media and their platforms to express harsh opinions.

Manohla Dargis, the chief film critic for The New York Times, stated that the film is neither good enough to admire nor bad enough to be delightfully criticized, calling its mediocrity a significant disappointment. Meanwhile, Kyle Smith from The Wall Street Journal remarked that the film seems more varnished than heartfelt, suggesting that the plot feels contrived and lacking depth.

Odie Henderson from The Boston Globe expressed similar sentiments, reflecting on his disappointment as he had hoped the film would bring joy. Instead, he claimed the remake made him feel both sleepy and grumpy.

Character Performances Under Scrutiny

The film’s attempt to inject warmth into its characters via live-action performances appears to have fallen flat. The Associated Press noted that while lead actress Rachel Zegler delivers a sense of life, her co-stars—both human and CGI—are portrayed as rigid and lifeless.

Wendy Ide, chief film critic for The Guardian, awarded the film just one star out of five, labeling it a toe-curlingly dreadful experience. Ide criticized the production, emphasizing that it seemed driven by financial motives rather than artistic integrity.

Concerns About Diversity Representation

The film has not only been criticized for its creative execution but also its approach to depicting characters. Actor Peter Dinklage openly questioned the film’s push for diversity in casting, stating that it makes little sense to him within the context of the story.

Financial Implications and Box Office Projections

According to Deadline.com, projections indicate that Disney’s Snow White may earn only around $43 million during its opening weekend. This figure positions it as likely underperforming compared to Disney’s 2019 film, Dumbo, which previously held the title for the lowest box office performance, opening with $46 million. However, with a budget of $270 million, Snow White could emerge as a larger financial disappointment than its predecessor.

The film’s production has been shadowed by controversy. Over the last three years leading to its release, the film experienced a year-long delay, a shift in Disney’s approach to portraying dwarfs in a more politically correct light, as well as Zegler’s criticism of the original film’s themes. Additionally, her controversial remarks about certain political groups have detracted from the film’s potential audience.

A Storm of Media Mismanagement

Christian Toto, a conservative film critic, commented that the film’s release suffered from a perfect storm of media mismanagement. This situation, he notes, dramatically blunted the film’s box office ambitions even before it reached theaters.

As the audience and critics continue to resonate with the film’s shortcomings, Disney’s challenge will be to navigate the difficult waters ahead. The future of ‘Snow White’ remains to be seen as it competes for attention amidst more favorable cinematic choices.