Disney’s live-action Snow White returned to theaters this past weekend and earned around $210,000 from more than 1,300 screens across the United States. The re-release comes just a few days before the movie becomes available online for digital purchase and rental.
A Modest Weekend Performance
The re-release had a quiet performance at the box office, making only about $50 per theater on average. While not a major hit, Disney likely used the re-release to keep the movie in the public eye before its digital debut.
Snow White will be available on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) starting Tuesday, May 13. Fans will be able to buy it for $29.99 or rent it for $24.99 for 48 hours. The film will be available on popular platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, and Fandango at Home.
Big Budget, Small Return
The film, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, had a very high budget. Disney reportedly spent between $240 million and $270 million to make it, making it one of their most expensive films ever.
S0o far, Snow White has made about $202.8 million worldwide, which is much less than Disney hoped. The film hasn’t even made back its production costs yet, which is why the digital release is so important for the studio.
Mixed Reactions from Critics and Fans
Snow White premiered in Spain at the beautiful Alcázar of Segovia on March 12, and then opened in U.S. theaters on March 21. Reviews were mixed. Some praised Rachel Zegler for her performance, but others were not happy with the changes made to the classic story.
The movie updated many parts of the original 1937 animated film. It included a new character named Jonathan, who helps Snow White on her journey, and made changes to the famous Seven Dwarfs. Some viewers didn’t like the modern take, feeling it moved too far from the original charm.
Pre-Release Controversy and Backlash
Even before its release, the movie was surrounded by controversy. Some fans were upset about the changes to the story and characters. Others reacted strongly to comments made by cast members, especially Rachel Zegler, who was criticized for mocking the original film in interviews.
These issues led to a backlash online, with some people even calling for boycotts. Despite the efforts of Disney’s marketing team and the fame of its lead actors, the movie struggled to gain strong support at the box office.
Can PVOD Save Snow White?
Now, with the digital release just around the corner, Disney is hoping that fans will be more willing to watch Snow White at home. If enough people rent or buy the movie online, the studio may still be able to recover some of the money it spent making the film.
All eyes are now on how the film performs on digital platforms.
