Disney’s Snow White may have topped the domestic box office with a $43M debut, but the numbers reveal a concerning trend for Disney’s live-action remakes. Not only is this the lowest domestic opening for a Disney reimagining, but it also falls short of initial projections. The film’s global launch stands at $87.3M, below the estimated $100M opening worldwide. While brand recognition and lack of competition could help sustain its run, Snow White will need strong legs to justify its massive $250M budget.
The film arrives amid multiple controversies and expensive reshoots, but industry analysts suggest its underperformance is more due to audience fatigue toward Disney’s live-action remakes. The comparison with past hits like The Lion King ($191M opening) and Beauty and the Beast ($174M opening) signals that the golden era of Disney’s live-action adaptations may be fading. However, Disney is banking on a “Mufasa” strategy, hoping for a slow but steady box office climb in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the domestic box office remains sluggish, with revenues trailing 7% behind 2024 and 39% behind 2019 levels. Apart from Snow White, no other film crossed the $5M mark this weekend, a worrying sign for exhibitors.
Other Notable Performances
Black Bag moved up to No. 2 with $4.4M in its second weekend, showing strong legs with only a 42% drop, bringing its total to $14.8M.
Captain America: Brave New World remains the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year, with a $192M domestic total and $400M worldwide. However, its moderate 28% decline suggests it may struggle to cross $250M domestically.
Mickey 17, despite Bong Joon Ho’s pedigree, is turning into a box office disappointment, with $40M domestically and $100M globally. Given its $118M budget, it’s headed for a significant loss.
Novocaine, last week’s top film, plummeted 57% to $3.7M, signaling short-lived interest despite a low production cost.
Warner Bros.’s The Alto Knights flopped with a $3.1M debut, making it one of the year’s biggest bombs alongside Mickey 17.
What’s Next?
With A Minecraft Movie (April 4) and Marvel’s Thunderbolts (May 2) on the horizon, the industry hopes for a box office revival in April and May. Until then, the theatrical landscape remains weak, and Snow White‘s long-term trajectory will be closely watched.
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