Disney’s live-action adaptations of its animated classics might be falling out of favor with audiences, which could spell bad news for the studio’s upcoming “Snow White.” This is most evident in 2023’s “The Little Mermaid,” which did not have the same legs at the box office as some of its predecessors.
The Halle Bailey-starring remake managed to bring in over $569 million worldwide. It’s far from a failure, but it’s notable how the film flounders in comparison to such remakes as “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and “Aladdin,” all of which broke the $1 billion mark globally. “The Little Mermaid” only brought in $68.3 million internationally during its opening weekend, a surprisingly low sum for such a well-known Disney property.
“Snow White” unfortunately comes with its fair share of controversial baggage. The casting of Rachel Zegler as the titular heroine infuriated fans, as did Zegler’s remarks on the original film’s dated aspects. Similarly, the film’s depiction of the seven dwarfs has birthed a similar debate from actors such as Peter Dinklage and Jason “Wee Man” Acuña. Add that the original “Snow White,” while a classic, doesn’t have the same nostalgic value for modern audiences that “The Lion King” or “Aladdin” does, and it gives the remake an uphill battle to fight.
