Summary
Snow White’s early reactions could spell trouble for Disney and its live-action remake trend. Starring Rachel Zegler in the titular role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen,Snow Whiteis Disney’s latest big-budget live-action film and their newest remake of a classic from the studio’s animation catalog.
Nine years and various controversies after the film’s 2016 announcement,Disney’s latest remake ofSnow Whiteappears divisive, to say the least. The original 1937 animatedSnow White and the Seven DwarveswasDisney’s first feature-length animated film, cementing their foothold in the world of hand-drawn cartoons with princesses for decades afterward. Because of the original’s significant part in Disney’s history,Snow Whitein live-action is arguably Disney’s most crucial remake of their classic nearing-a-century-old animated roster of selections, even more so thanThe Lion KingorBeauty and the Beast. However, as soon as production went into full swing, things soured—things were not white as snow from the get-go.
Snow WhiteReviews and Controversies
Premiering June 11, 2025,Snow White’s early Rotten Tomatoes score,produced from 94 confirmed reviews thus far, signifies Disney’s failure to escape the film’s wide-open controversies and director Marc Webb’s struggle with enlivening his subjects.Though early reactions praised the film, many critics now agree thatSnow Whiteis a bit of a miss, whilst those who praise it primarily see it as a decently crafted, if unoriginal and non-inventive, remake. While some say that Rachel Zegler is unyielding in the title role and the modernization of Snow White as a character is refreshing, these same critics, along with the film’s naysayers, say that missteps in choreography, humor, and characterization poisonSnow White’s pure intentions. Like with hisAmazing Spider-Manflicks, some praise director Marc Webb for successfully reimagining the original’s visual scope, but he also gets criticized for his seeming inability to capture the characters' organic appeal or new ideas.
Thus, it seemsSnow Whitecould not escape its production burdens—and many there were. Zegler’s casting as the titular princesswas met with some criticism over her ethnicity, given Snow White’s depiction as a white woman in the 88-year-old animated classic. The film also reimagines the seven dwarves to skirt murky criticisms of the IP’s problematic depiction of Dwarfism, sparking back-and-forth criticism over offensive representation vs. real-world job opportunities. Zegler’s confirmation that the new film sidelines the original film’s love story sparked criticism against Disney for going too far in reimagining it for the sake of political correctness and against Zegler herself for daring to criticize such a vital Disney classic. Even the central duo’s political views on the Israel-Palestine conflict influenced the film’s recent premiere and press release cycle. Many warning signs have plaguedSnow White’s live-action debut, and critics appear similarly middling about the quality of this long-anticipated princess story.
Fans will still have to wait to see whether Disney’s latest live-action attempt is a success or another time-waster. For now, Rotten Tomatoes' below-fifty-percent score signifies that perhaps onlySnow White’s most adoring fans—and kids—will appreciate Disney’s latest musical romp. However, there is still a chance for a surprising change in opinion, especially with its few definitively golden tidbits, likeRachel Zegler’s admirable performanceand some awe-inspiring musicals for hopefuls to ooze over.
