On May 13, 2025, Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, starring Rachel Zegler, faced yet another humiliating setback as its Mother’s Day weekend re-release in 1,330 theaters grossed a mere $335,000—an average of just $252 per theater. The dismal performance, reported widely across entertainment news outlets and social media, marked a new low for the already beleaguered $270 million production, which has struggled to resonate with audiences since its initial release in March 2025. In response, Zegler has struck back, addressing the failure head-on and defending her role in the film, while critics and fans alike continue to debate the impact of the film’s “woke” reimagining and Zegler’s outspoken persona on its commercial downfall.
A Disastrous Re-Release on Mother’s Day
Disney’s decision to re-release Snow White over Mother’s Day weekend was intended to capitalize on the family-friendly holiday, hoping to draw in audiences who might have missed the film’s initial run. However, the move backfired spectacularly. According to posts on X, the film earned a “laughable” $335,000 across 1,330 theaters, with some users mockingly noting that it averaged around $50 per theater after accounting for ticket splits with other films. This re-release came on the heels of the film’s already underwhelming theatrical performance, which saw a global box office total of $194.5 million by late April 2025—far short of the $540 million to $810 million needed to break even, given its $270 million production budget and additional marketing costs.
The Mother’s Day flop was particularly stinging for Disney, as the holiday is typically a strong period for family-oriented films. Social media reactions were swift and harsh, with users pointing out the empty theaters and questioning Disney’s strategy. One X user remarked, “Moms gave Rachel Zegler the finger! Snow White re-release on Mother’s Day makes $50 per theater!” The sentiment echoed a broader frustration with the film, which has been mired in controversy since its inception, with many attributing its failure to its perceived “woke” agenda and Zegler’s polarizing public statements.
Zegler Strikes Back: Defending Her Role and Vision
In the wake of the Mother’s Day disaster, Rachel Zegler took to social media on May 14, 2025, to address the criticism and defend her involvement in Snow White. In a series of Instagram stories, Zegler expressed gratitude to the fans who supported the film, while also pushing back against the narrative that she was to blame for its failure. “I poured my heart into this role, and I’m proud of the story we told,” she wrote. “Snow White is about resilience, strength, and standing up for what’s right—values I’ll always stand by. The hate and the numbers don’t change that.” She also called out the “toxic discourse” surrounding the film, suggesting that the backlash was fueled by a small but vocal group of detractors who were more focused on her politics than the film itself.
Zegler’s response was a direct rebuttal to the narrative that has dominated discussions about Snow White since its release. Critics have pointed to her comments during the promotional tour—where she described the 1937 original as “weird” and its prince as a “stalker”—as a key reason for the film’s poor reception. Her political activism, including her “free Palestine” tweet in August 2024 and her post-election Instagram rant against President Trump and his supporters, has also been cited as alienating a significant portion of Disney’s audience. However, Zegler’s defenders argue that she has been unfairly scapegoated for systemic issues within Disney’s live-action remake strategy, which has increasingly struggled to connect with modern audiences.
The “Woke” Snow White Controversy: A Perfect Storm
The Snow White remake has been a lightning rod for controversy since Zegler’s casting was announced in 2021. As a Latina actress of Colombian-Polish descent, Zegler faced racist backlash from some fans who argued that Snow White, traditionally depicted as having “skin as white as snow,” should not be played by a non-white actress. Zegler addressed this criticism early on, stating in a since-deleted tweet, “Yes I am Snow White, no I am not bleaching my skin for the role.” The film’s creative decisions further fueled the fire: the Seven Dwarfs were replaced with CGI “magical creatures” following criticism from actors like Peter Dinklage about reinforcing stereotypes, a move that angered dwarf actors like Jason Acuna, who felt excluded from the production.
Zegler’s comments about the original film’s “sexist” romance plot and her refusal to sing the classic song “Someday My Prince Will Come” added to the backlash. The remake replaced Prince Charming with a Robin Hood-esque bandit named Jonathan, a change Zegler described as a “modern” take on the story that focused on Snow White’s agency rather than her romantic arc. While some praised the reimagining for its progressive approach, others saw it as a betrayal of the nostalgia that drives Disney’s live-action remakes. Film critic Victoria Luxford, quoted in a BBC article, noted that criticizing the original film “was never going to work out well,” as these films rely heavily on nostalgia to attract audiences.
The film’s political undertones also became a flashpoint. Zegler’s “free Palestine” tweet, posted shortly after the first trailer debuted, reportedly led to death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen and is a proud Israeli and former IDF instructor. According to Variety, producer Marc Platt flew to New York to reprimand Zegler for her social media activity, a detail later confirmed by Platt’s son Jonah, who accused Zegler of dragging her personal politics into the film’s promotion. Zegler’s post-election outburst, where she wrote, “May Trump supporters… never know peace,” further alienated conservative audiences, with some, like X user @DC_Draino, claiming that her actions made her “kryptonite” to major studios.
A Box Office Disaster with Lasting Impact
The initial release of Snow White in March 2025 was already a financial disappointment, opening with just $42.2 million domestically and dropping 66% in its second weekend to $14.2 million. The film’s global total of $194.5 million by late April 2025 meant Disney was set to lose approximately $115 million, according to Deadline. The Mother’s Day re-release only deepened the financial wound, with its $335,000 gross underscoring the public’s lack of interest. On IMDb, the film has been review-bombed, holding a 1.6/10 rating from over 343,000 user votes, making it one of the lowest-rated films on the platform.
Disney’s broader strategy of live-action remakes has come under scrutiny as a result. While earlier remakes like The Lion King ($191.8 million domestic opening) and Beauty and the Beast ($174.8 million) were massive successes, recent efforts like Mufasa: The Lion King and now Snow White have struggled to replicate that magic. Industry analyst David A. Gross, speaking to Business Insider, argued that Snow White’s failure was less about its “wokeness” and more about its inability to connect creatively with audiences, citing mixed reviews (40% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lack of compelling storytelling. However, the cultural backlash cannot be ignored, with some fans on X declaring, “Go woke, go broke,” a sentiment that has become a rallying cry for those critical of Disney’s progressive pivot.
Disney and Zegler: Where Do They Go From Here?
For Disney, the Snow White debacle has prompted a reported shift away from “woke” content, with industry insiders telling IMDb that Hollywood is reassessing its approach to progressive themes in the wake of such failures. The studio has already scaled back promotional efforts for the film, with a muted premiere and limited press access, a stark contrast to the lavish rollouts of past remakes. However, as Gross noted, the theatrical run is just the beginning for Disney products, and the film could still generate revenue through merchandise and streaming on Disney+. Anecdotally, children who have seen the film seem to enjoy it, which could bode well for consumer products like Snow White dolls and costumes.
For Zegler, the fallout has been more personal. Her West End debut in Evita, set to open in July 2025, has also struggled with ticket sales, a situation her team has blamed on online trolls—a claim that has been met with skepticism. Despite the setbacks, Zegler has garnered support from some quarters, with fans and peers like Melissa Barrera praising her integrity. Film critic David Ehrlich wrote on X, “Rachel Zegler RULES and so obviously has a lifetime of incredible roles & performances ahead of her,” while journalist Mark Harris called Variety’s coverage of Zegler a “hit job” designed to scapegoat her for the film’s failure.
Zegler’s next project, a comedy film with Marisa Tomei, offers a potential opportunity to pivot to safer ground, but her ability to rebuild her public image remains uncertain. Her outspokenness, while admirable to some, has made her a polarizing figure in an industry that often demands conformity. As she navigates this challenging period, Zegler’s resilience will be tested, much like the character she portrayed in Snow White.
Conclusion
Rachel Zegler’s defiant response to the Mother’s Day re-release flop of Snow White underscores the deep divide between her vision for the film and the expectations of Disney’s audience. The film’s failure, exacerbated by its dismal $335,000 re-release gross, highlights the challenges of modernizing a beloved classic in an era of cultural and political polarization. While Zegler remains a talented actress with a passionate fanbase, the Snow White disaster has cast a long shadow over her career, raising questions about her future in Hollywood. For Disney, the flop serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of alienating audiences with progressive reimaginings, a lesson that may shape the studio’s approach to future remakes.
