Disney's "Snow White" struggles at box office amid controversies
American preview screenings of "Snow White", featuring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot in the lead roles, have commenced. Unfortunately, ticket sales are expected to be disappointing for Disney, with the film performing worse than "Kung Fu Panda 4", for example.
According to Deadline, the box office sales from American theatres for the preview screenings of "Snow White" have been reported. These figures are not encouraging for Disney's management, as the production has grossed around £2.7 million. This places it just above "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" with Angelina Jolie (£1.7 million) and Tim Burton's "Dumbo" (£2 million). Neither of these films was a massive commercial success.
Will "Snow White" disappoint financially? First results are worrying
The situation becomes more concerning when considering that "Snow White" had a budget of approximately £208 million. Additionally, as it is spring break in many states, families are often on holiday and avoiding theatres.
Deadline cites its research, claiming that as many as 94% of respondents in the US alone were aware that "Snow White" would soon be in theatres. However, only 39% of them expressed interest in the film and might see it in cinemas.
"Snow White" has faced several controversies—the issue of casting dwarfs was contentious. Actress Rachel Zegler was criticised after a few interviews for not respecting the original story, and Gal Gadot's political views have divided many fans.
While these issues have no bearing on the film's quality, they might have influenced some people's decision to skip the film.
Reviewers are rating "Snow White" critically—it currently holds only a 46% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is lower than both "Maleficent" and the live-action "Aladdin."
