Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Remake Faces a Staggering $170 Million Loss
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After years of controversies and disappointing box office results, Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White,” set to release in 2025, has reportedly incurred a staggering loss of approximately $170 million.
Forbes reported that recent filings reveal the film’s production costs soared to an eye-watering $336.5 million, yet it failed to generate significant returns amidst ongoing controversies.
The financial details emerged due to the film being shot in the United Kingdom, where local laws provide generous reimbursements for film productions but come with stringent regulations. Consequently, Disney established a subsidiary, Hidden Heart Productions, to navigate these rules. This setup allowed for the disclosure of expenses that are typically kept secret for films produced in the U.S.
As noted by contributor Caroline Reid in the Daily Mail, “By July 31, 2022, Disney had already spent an astonishing $183.3 million on making Snow White, even though principal photography had just concluded.” The latest filings cover the year ending December 31, 2024, providing a nearly complete overview of the film’s costs.
Actress Rachel Zegler caused a variety of controversies for the “Snow White” film she starred in. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reid further emphasized that the $336.5 million spent on Snow White exceeds the production costs of Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and even the live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” which grossed an impressive $1.3 billion in 2017.
While the U.K. government provided a reimbursement of $64.9 million (£52.3 million) for the film, bringing the net expenses down to $271.6 million, this was still insufficient for a successful theatrical release. Reid quipped, “Even that wasn’t enough to give it a happy ending in theaters.”
The complexities of theatrical distribution added another layer to the financial challenges. According to film industry consultant Stephen Follows, theaters typically retain about 49% of box office revenues. This means Disney would only receive approximately $102.9 million from Snow White, resulting in a total loss of $168.7 million after accounting for the film’s net spending.
OutKick reported that this makes it “one of the biggest box office bombs in the history of the movie business, in pure dollar value terms.”
Beyond the financial setbacks, the remake has also faced significant cultural controversies. DISNEY’S ‘SNOW WHITE’ IS TOP CONTENDER FOR RAZZIE AWARD FOR WORST FILM OF 2025
Disney’s remake of “Snow White” turned into a fiasco. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
In 2022, Peter Dinklage criticized Disney for remaking a “f—— backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together,” despite the studio’s progressive casting choices for lead actress Rachel Zegler.
In response to the backlash, Disney reportedly considered replacing the dwarfs with multiracial and gender-mixed “magical creatures” in 2023. However, this plan was later abandoned in favor of using computer-animated mythological dwarfs resembling those from the original animated film.
Zegler also stirred controversy by criticizing the original 1937 film, making remarks about Israel, and posting on social media, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” adding, “F— Donald Trump.”
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Disney took a huge financial hit on “Snow White,” according to a new report. (Al Bello/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Disney has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the film’s financial performance and controversies.
Fox News contributor Douglas Murray weighs in on infighting among Democratic lawmakers over border relief funds and the demise of fairy tales on ‘The Bottom Line.’
After years of controversies and disappointing box office results, Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White,” set to release in 2025, has reportedly incurred a staggering loss of approximately $170 million.
Forbes reported that recent filings reveal the film’s production costs soared to an eye-watering $336.5 million, yet it failed to generate significant returns amidst ongoing controversies.
The financial details emerged due to the film being shot in the United Kingdom, where local laws provide generous reimbursements for film productions but come with stringent regulations. Consequently, Disney established a subsidiary, Hidden Heart Productions, to navigate these rules. This setup allowed for the disclosure of expenses that are typically kept secret for films produced in the U.S.
As noted by contributor Caroline Reid in the Daily Mail, “By July 31, 2022, Disney had already spent an astonishing $183.3 million on making Snow White, even though principal photography had just concluded.” The latest filings cover the year ending December 31, 2024, providing a nearly complete overview of the film’s costs.
Actress Rachel Zegler caused a variety of controversies for the “Snow White” film she starred in. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reid further emphasized that the $336.5 million spent on Snow White exceeds the production costs of Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and even the live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” which grossed an impressive $1.3 billion in 2017.
While the U.K. government provided a reimbursement of $64.9 million (£52.3 million) for the film, bringing the net expenses down to $271.6 million, this was still insufficient for a successful theatrical release. Reid quipped, “Even that wasn’t enough to give it a happy ending in theaters.”
The complexities of theatrical distribution added another layer to the financial challenges. According to film industry consultant Stephen Follows, theaters typically retain about 49% of box office revenues. This means Disney would only receive approximately $102.9 million from Snow White, resulting in a total loss of $168.7 million after accounting for the film’s net spending.
OutKick reported that this makes it “one of the biggest box office bombs in the history of the movie business, in pure dollar value terms.”
Beyond the financial setbacks, the remake has also faced significant cultural controversies. DISNEY’S ‘SNOW WHITE’ IS TOP CONTENDER FOR RAZZIE AWARD FOR WORST FILM OF 2025
Disney’s remake of “Snow White” turned into a fiasco. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
In 2022, Peter Dinklage criticized Disney for remaking a “f—— backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together,” despite the studio’s progressive casting choices for lead actress Rachel Zegler.
In response to the backlash, Disney reportedly considered replacing the dwarfs with multiracial and gender-mixed “magical creatures” in 2023. However, this plan was later abandoned in favor of using computer-animated mythological dwarfs resembling those from the original animated film.
Zegler also stirred controversy by criticizing the original 1937 film, making remarks about Israel, and posting on social media, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” adding, “F— Donald Trump.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Disney took a huge financial hit on “Snow White,” according to a new report. (Al Bello/Getty Images / Getty Images)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Disney has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the film’s financial performance and controversies.
