Is Snow White removed from the theatres? Details explored

Disney's live-action adaptation of "Snow White" hit the theater screens in the U.S. on March 21, 2025. As of March 29, 2025, the film is still playing. However, it has faced several challenges since its release. According to reports, it has failed to meet the box office expectations with a $43 million domestic and $87 million global opening figure, a meek one in front of the whopping amount of $350 million involved in the production and marketing of the film.

The film has received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 43% and an abysmal 1.6/10 rating on IMDb. The reports cite several reasons behind this, with Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White, herself bearing the brunt. Fans are also upset about some alterations that they have made to the original story and characters.

It has been a week since the film has been running in theaters, and despite these challenges, there has been no official confirmation regarding the film being removed. However, according to a report by Forbes, the second week could witness a further 53% dip in viewership.

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Snow White survives in theaters amidst several controversies, explored

The casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney's live-action remake has been a source of controversy ever since it was announced in June 2021. Zegler, a Latina actress known for her role in West Side Story, faced tremendous backlash from certain fans of Disney who felt that the casting was inappropriate for the role of Snow White, a character traditionally depicted as white.

This is seen as a major tampering with the original story. However, there is no doubt that the reaction is rooted in prejudice and racism; they found it inconsistent to cast a woman of color who doesn't match the original animated series and the depiction of Snow White, someone who is "as white as snow."

Furthermore, after the recent attack on Gaza by Israel, especially when both parties agreed to a ceasefire, the actor portrayed her solidarity with the people of Gaza who lost their lives. This swayed away many of the critics with a conservative mindset and gave birth to a whole new political discourse around the film.

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Zegler received support from some fans, journalists and fellow industry people

In the second week, Snow White's earnings in theaters could be as low as just $20 million, as per Deadline. However, this isn't the first time any film based on iconic characters has faced such a reaction soaked in racism. In 1997, Brandy made history by becoming the first Black woman to play Cinderella in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella for television. This casting choice, while groundbreaking, faced significant backlash from certain parts of the public who were not able to sink in the idea of a Black Cinderella.

Brandy even responded to Zegler while speaking to Variety amidst the controversy and asserted that she should not do the role to please the critic but for every little Colombian girl who once imagined herself in the iconic role.

“You’re not taking on this role to fit the mould of the critics…You’re doing this for every little Colombian girl who has yet to see themselves in a role like a Disney princess," she told Variety.

Likewise, several other fans, journalists, and people from the industry come forward in support of Zegler. Like Melissa Barrera, the actress who was fired from Scream 7 due to her outspoken support for Palestine, she publicly defended Zegler on social media, calling her someone who has "integrity." Journalist Mark Harris also pointed out how conveniently Disney is passing on the blame to Zegler's political beliefs.