Disney's live-action version of the classic fairy tale Snow White topped the North American box office despite a slew of negative reviews. It earned an estimated $87.3m globally in its opening weekend, with nearly half of that coming from North America. However, that was below expectations for a film that grossed more than $270m.
The remake of Snow White has been controversial even before it hit theaters. This includes issues with the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as the lead. There have also been debates about Zegler's pro-Palestinian comments and Israeli actress Gal Gadot's pro-Israel comments as the Evil Queen. There has also been discussion about whether dwarfs should actually be in the film, live or CGI.
In mainland China, the film did not do well; it only grossed less than $1m in its first three days. Entertainment consultant Patrick Frater said that multiple controversies may have affected the film's appeal, and its impact in Asia has been weakened since the pandemic began.
