Mixed Opening for Disney’s Snow White with $87.3M Global Launch
Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White, has opened to mixed results at the global box office. The film has earned an estimated $43.0 million in North America and $44.3 million internationally, bringing its worldwide opening total to approximately $87.3 million. While these figures position Snow White as the number-one film in the global market, comfortably ahead of its closest competitor, Ne Zha 2, which is currently in its eighth week of release, the overall reception is more subdued than Disney might have hoped for given the expectations surrounding this high-profile remake.
To put the debut of Snow White into context, Disney had much higher expectations based on its recent history with live-action remakes. For example, in May 2023, The Little Mermaid (also a Disney animated classic being remade in live-action) had an opening of $163.8 million worldwide. That film opened simultaneously in 52 international markets, the same number as Snow White, but its debut was significantly stronger, especially in comparison to the latest offering.
International Breakdown
When looking at Snow White’s international performance, the film has fared strongest in the UK and Ireland, where it earned an estimated $5.1 million. Other notable international markets include Mexico, where it grossed $4.1 million; Italy with $4.0 million; France at $3.0 million; and Spain, where the film made $2.6 million. Although these numbers aren’t disastrous, they still fall short of the results Disney hoped to achieve, particularly given the popularity of these live-action remakes globally.
Box Office Comparison with Other Disney Remakes
The opening of Snow White does not come close to matching the global debut of The Little Mermaid, but Disney can still take solace in the fact that it is the second-biggest opening of 2025 from a US studio, following Captain America: Brave New World, a film from Disney’s Marvel division. However, in a broader historical context, Snow White’s global opening seems underwhelming when comparing it to other successful Disney live-action remakes.
For instance, Cinderella (2015), directed by Kenneth Branagh, had a global debut of $130.3 million, far surpassing Snow White‘s current numbers. Cinderella ultimately grossed $542.4 million worldwide during its theatrical run, a figure that could be seen as a more realistic target for Snow White in the long run.
Looking to The Little Mermaid as a point of comparison, the global total for that film reached $569.6 million. Given the strength of The Little Mermaid’s opening, it seems clear that Snow White has some catching up to do if it hopes to reach similar financial heights.
Factors at Play
Despite the underwhelming opening, there are reasons to remain optimistic for Snow White’s long-term performance. For one, the film is positioned well to benefit from the upcoming Easter and spring break holiday periods, with Easter falling later than usual in 2025, on April 20. These school holiday periods are crucial for family films like Snow White, as they offer an opportunity for younger audiences to attend the movie. Additionally, there is little competition for the family audience in the coming weeks, which could help the film’s momentum.
Furthermore, there’s always the possibility that Snow White could experience a stronger-than-expected run during the weeks ahead, as more families take to the theaters. The lack of major family-oriented films releasing in the near future could help sustain its box office numbers through April and into the summer months, even if the film did not open as strongly as some had anticipated.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, Snow White’s opening weekend has been a mixed bag for Disney. The film is the number-one movie globally, but its performance has been significantly lower than that of The Little Mermaid‘s debut last year. While the numbers are not disastrous, Disney will be hoping that the Easter and spring break periods will provide a much-needed boost to the film’s overall box office performance. With competition low and the holiday seasons ahead, Snow White still has a chance to perform better in the coming weeks, although it faces a steep challenge if it hopes to match the success of recent Disney live-action remakes like The Little Mermaid or Cinderella.
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