Snow White's Big Box Office Debut

Disney's live-action Snow White movie has made a strong start at the box office, despite facing a lot of controversy. The film raked in $3. 5 million during its Thursday previews, which is quite impressive. This puts it ahead of other live-action remakes like Cinderella and Dumbo, which earned $2. 3 million and $2. 8 million respectively, on their preview nights. It also comes close to the earnings of Kung Fu Panda 4 and Maleficent, which brought in $3. 8 million and $4. 3 million on their preview nights. The movie is expected to perform well over the weekend, potentially crossing $50 million. This could give the 2025 domestic box office a much-needed boost. Globally, the film is aiming for a debut of over $100 million. However, it has received a mixed response from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 46 percent. This is similar to The Lion King, which had a 51 percent score but still went on to become a billion-dollar blockbuster. Other Disney live-action princess remakes have had varying degrees of success. Beauty and the Beast had a massive opening with $174. 6 million domestically, while Cinderella debuted to $67. 9 million. Maleficent started with $69 million, but its sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, underperformed with $37 million. Dumbo and Kung Fu Panda 4 had mixed results, with Dumbo starting at $46 million and Kung Fu Panda 4 at $58 million. Snow White has had a rocky road to the big screen, with delays and controversy. The casting of Rachel Zegler in the titular role sparked backlash due to her Colombian descent. Zegler has also been open about her support for the Palestinian people. Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, has faced scrutiny for her remarks about the Gaza conflict. Despite the controversy, the movie has generated solid interest among girls, women, and families. It has no immediate competition and will be shown on all 400 IMAX screens and numerous other premium large-format screens. Exhibitors are also eager to show the film, which will be a major attraction during the spring holidays. Snow White will be released in almost every territory, except for a few Middle Eastern markets due to Ramadan.