Disney’s controversial remake stumbles to a massive loss, eclipsing even Joker 2’s theatrical bellyflop.
The Bigger Disaster? It’s Not the Clown
Disney’s live-action Snow White has officially earned the title of 2025’s biggest box office flop, beating out Joker: Folie à Deux in a race no studio wanted to win. According to MSN, Snow White barely crossed the global finish line at $310 million. That’s grim when you consider the remake cost $269 million to make and reportedly needed $673 million to break even after marketing, per ScreenRant. That leaves Disney staring at a $363 million shortfall.
Joker 2, for comparison, had a $200 million budget and managed to scrape in $201.2 million globally, also per ScreenRant. It needed $400 million to break even, putting its deficit at around $198.8 million. Both movies tanked, but Snow White’s bigger budget and loftier expectations made its downfall the more catastrophic of the two.
From Bold Projections to Brutal Reality
Early buzz for Snow White set it up as the next big Disney hit. In February 2025, ScreenRant reported it was projected to open at $55–60 million, with hopes it might match 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, which opened at $174 million.
But the wheels came off fast.
By March, after a flurry of bad press and online backlash, MSN said projections had fallen to $35–40 million. The final opening? A weak $32 million domestic, with a total global run that stalled at $310 million. That puts it below 2019’s Dumbo ($353 million), making Snow White the lowest-earning live-action remake in Disney’s modern lineup.
Controversy Magnet: From Casting to Comments
The film didn’t just stumble—it tripped over nearly every PR hurdle imaginable.
According to The New York Times, backlash began with Rachel Zegler’s casting as Snow White, prompting heated online debate over ethnicity and the character’s traditional appearance. Then came Disney’s decision to ditch the seven dwarfs in favor of “magical creatures,” a move meant to sidestep stereotypes but one that instead sparked more backlash, per ScreenRant.
Zegler didn’t help the situation. In press interviews, she called the 1937 original “outdated” and labeled the prince “a stalker”—comments that alienated classic Disney fans, per MSN. Even her wig became a punchline, with The New York Times noting fan ridicule over its “atrocious” look.
All of this stacked up to a lack of goodwill before the movie even hit theaters. Unlike Mufasa: The Lion King, which recovered in late 2024 with a $600 million haul, Snow White never found its footing.
Joker 2 Flopped—Just Not as Hard
Joker: Folie à Deux didn’t fare much better, but at least its numbers weren’t quite as soul-crushing.
The $200 million sequel to 2019’s billion-dollar Joker managed just $57.8 million domestic and $143.4 million international, totaling $201.2 million, per ScreenRant. With a $400 million break-even point, it came up $198.8 million short.
Critics weren’t kind, either—33% on Rotten Tomatoes—and fans were divided over its musical format and casting of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, again per ScreenRant.
But unlike Disney’s Snow White, Joker 2 didn’t carry the same weight of legacy or merchandising potential. And with a smaller budget, Warner Bros. took a hit—but not a Disney-sized wound.
Disney’s Remake Machine: Running Out of Gas?
The crash-and-burn performance of Snow White isn’t just about one film—it reflects a wider malaise for Disney’s live-action remakes. Once a golden goose (see: The Jungle Book at $966M in 2016), the shine has dulled. Even 2023’s The Little Mermaid only managed $570 million, according to ScreenRant.
Fan fatigue, creative controversy, and brand dilution seem to be catching up. Snow White was supposed to be a safe bet—a well-known IP with modern tweaks. Instead, it proved that “modernizing classics” without respecting the nostalgia can backfire in spectacular fashion.
In contrast, Joker 2 was a weird gamble that didn’t pay off—but it was at least trying something different.
What Now?
With a $363 million loss, Snow White wins the title for 2025’s most expensive cinematic misfire. Warner Bros. can write off Joker 2 as an artistic swing-and-miss. But for Disney, the message is clear: the remake formula is no longer bulletproof. If they want to recover, it may be time to go back to the drawing board—and maybe back to the original drawing style too.
Sources:
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MSN, “Snow White Stumbles Past Final Global Box Office Milestones After Disastrous Theatrical Run,” May 2, 2025
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ScreenRant, “Rachel Zegler’s Snow White: Early Box Office Projections Eyeing Continued Downward Trend For Live-Action Disney Remakes,” March 15, 2025
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ScreenRant, “Joker 2 Box Office Manages to Pass Major Global Milestone Four Weeks After Release Despite Lackluster Theatrical Run,” October 30, 2024
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The New York Times, “Snow White and the Seven Kajillion Controversies,” March 27, 2025
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Edgar B. for D/REZZED News from Clownfish TV.
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