Remember when Hollywood actually made movies people wanted to see? Those days seem like ancient history. These days, it’s like watching someone repeatedly step on the same rake while insisting the rake is the problem. The entertainment industry’s apparent death wish shows no signs of slowing down. Instead of creating content that appeals to mainstream Americans, Hollywood executives keep green-lighting projects that lecture viewers rather than entertain them. The results are as predictable as they are financially catastrophic.
Disney’s latest misadventure, their live-action “Snow White” remake, has just secured its place in the company’s growing hall of shame. The once-mighty entertainment giant, which apparently hasn’t learned anything from its recent string of failures, watched in horror as its $270 million princess story delivered the worst opening of any Disney live-action remake to date.
Not-So-Fairest Box Office of Them All
From ‘Breitbart’:
With its dreadful $43 million opening, Snow White now holds the record for the lowest debut weekend of any of Disney’s live-action remakes. The previous record-holder was 2019’s Dumbo, which opened to $46 million.
Making matters worse, the global picture isn’t any brighter. Initial projections had the film bringing in around $100 million worldwide on its opening weekend. The actual number? A paltry $87 million. When you factor in theaters taking their cut of ticket sales, Disney is staring at what industry insiders call a “brutal, brutal loss.”
When the Princess Cancels Her Own Fairy Tale
Perhaps the film’s star, Rachel Zegler, shares some responsibility for alienating potential viewers. When President Trump won the 2024 election, Zegler took to Instagram with a message that certainly didn’t endear her to conservative moviegoers.
“I find myself speechless in the midst of this. another four years of hatred, leaning us towards a world i do not want to live in,” she wrote in a now-deleted Instagram story. “I shouldn’t be this shocked. but i am. i am heartbroken for my friends who awoke [in] fear this morning.”
Zegler also raised eyebrows when she criticized the original 1937 “Snow White” film, calling it “extremely dated” regarding “ideas of women being in roles of power and what a woman is fit for in the world.” Nothing says “please come see my movie” quite like insulting the beloved classic you’re remaking. Did she expect families who cherish the original to rush to theaters after that?
The empty theaters speak volumes. Social media was flooded with images of vacant seats during opening weekend screenings. One X user shared a photo of her nearly deserted “Snow White” showing with the caption, “My Snow White screening lookin’ a little empty.” Another posted a screenshot of ticket sales showing only one person had purchased a seat for an IMAX showing, commenting, “Yeah this movie’s gonna flop.”
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Worst Remake of All?
Critics weren’t much kinder than audiences. The film initially scored a dismal 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that even professional reviewers couldn’t force themselves to praise Disney’s latest attempt at “reimagining” a classic.
The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner didn’t pull any punches, calling the remake a “painfully muddle-headed affair” and noting that “Disney’s contorted attempts not to offend anyone have somehow managed to offend everyone.” Meanwhile, The Times of London delivered perhaps the most devastating assessment: “Believe the anti-hype. It’s that bad. It represents a new low for cultural desecration and for a venerable 102-year-old entertainment company that now looks at its source material with a pinched nose of disgust.”
These reviews echo what many conservative viewers have been saying for years: nobody wants to be lectured to when they’re trying to be entertained. When you take a beloved story and twist it to serve a contemporary political agenda, don’t be surprised when audiences stay home.
Disney seems caught in an endless loop of “go woke, go broke,” with “Snow White” following failures like “The Marvels” and “Lightyear.” At some point, you’d think the message would sink in that American families want entertainment that respects traditional values, not dismantles them. But Hollywood’s ideological bubble appears impenetrable, even as box office receipts plummet. How many more financial disasters will it take before someone in Disney’s executive suite finally connects the dots?
Key Takeaways:
- Disney’s $270 million “Snow White” remake has delivered the worst opening weekend in the company’s live-action remake history.
- Star Rachel Zegler’s public criticism of the original film and her anti-Trump statements likely contributed to the movie’s failure.
- Despite mounting evidence that ideology-driven content alienates viewers, Hollywood continues to prioritize political messaging over entertainment value.
Sources: Breitbart, The Post Millennial
