‘Snow White’ bites the poison apple at the box office
It’s probably time to declare Disney’s live-action remakes dead.
Hello! Welcome to The Box Office Report for the weekend of March 21-23, 2025.
1. Snow White
Weekend gross: $43M
Total domestic gross: $43M
Last weekend: New release
Percent drop: NA
It’s time for someone at Disney to start questioning whether these live-action remakes are worth it. After the studio’s Little Mermaid remake opened with $95.6 million in 2023, the bottom has fallen out for these cash grabs. A $35.4 million debut for Mufasa: The Lion King. A $43 million debut for Snow White.
It’s cute to pretend that any of these live-action remakes have made money because people wanted them and/or they were good instead of the more likely reality that parents just need G/PG movies to take their kids to, and it doesn’t matter if it’s one of these remakes, A Garfield Movie or the latest Minions flick.
Instead of continuing to pour money into live-action slop like Mufasa, Snow White and Lilo & Stitch, Disney would be better served steering those resources toward original animated movies. And if the studio absolutely can’t break away from revisiting established franchises, why not make a real animated sequel to The Lion King or Lilo & Stitch?
I mean, look at Moana 2. That movie made over $1 billion worldwide — and it was an accident. You can see the seams of how Disney transformed what was supposed to be a Disney+ series into a theatrical release, but it still had more creative integrity than the live-action Moana remake currently in the works.
🍪 Wanna add Snackology to your subscription? Update your email preferences on your account page.
2. Black Bag
Weekend gross: $4.4M
Total domestic gross: $14.9M
Last weekend: 2nd
Percent drop: 42
Between Snow White and Captain America: Brave New World, the Steven Soderbergh-directed film managed to sneak its way into second place.
