Gal Gadot blames political issues for Snow White’s box office failure

Disney’s live-action Snow White, released in March 2025, became one of the studio’s biggest financial flops, with an estimated loss of $115 million (R$ 620 million). Starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the film grossed just $205.6 million globally against a $410 million budget. Gadot, who played the Evil Queen, attributed the weak performance to pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel, as stated in an interview on The A Talks podcast by The Jerusalem Post. The film, directed by Marc Webb, faced controversies from pre-production, including criticism over Zegler’s casting and changes to the original story, as well as tensions between the leads due to opposing political stances. While it found success on Disney+ in June, the streaming performance didn’t offset cinema losses.

The film’s journey was fraught with challenges. Filming, held between March and July 2022 in the UK, faced delays due to the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, pushing the release from March 2024 to 2025. Disney’s marketing campaign was limited, with few promotional events and no joint interviews between Gadot and Zegler.

• Key film figures:
  • Total budget: $410 million (including marketing).
  • Global box office: $205.6 million.
  • Estimated loss: $115 million (R$ 620 million).
  • U.S. opening weekend: $44.3 million.

Political controversies in focus

Political issues were central to the film’s struggles. Gal Gadot, born in Tel Aviv and a former Israeli soldier, voiced support for Israel after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, drawing criticism from pro-Palestine groups and even death threats, prompting Disney to increase security. Rachel Zegler, conversely, supported the Palestinian cause with social media posts calling for a “free Palestine.” These opposing views fueled rumors of friction between the actresses, though Gadot said their on-set relationship was friendly. Disney tried to mitigate the fallout by advising Zegler to tone down her statements, but she stood firm, amplifying public debate.

The film was banned in Lebanon due to Gadot’s involvement and her pro-Israel stance, a decision enforced by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior amid tensions with Hezbollah. These geopolitical issues hurt the film’s perception in some international markets, limiting its reach.

Critical and public reception

Snow White’s critical reception was mixed. Rachel Zegler earned praise for her role as the princess, but Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen was widely panned as unconvincing. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored 44% with critics but 71% with audiences. On IMDb, a 1.6/10 rating suggests a “review bomb,” with 89.2% of votes giving the lowest score, prompting a warning from the site about unusual activity.

• Main criticisms of the film:
  • Gal Gadot’s performance deemed weak.
  • CGI criticized for subpar quality.
  • Changes to the original story, like replacing the seven dwarfs with magical creatures.
  • New songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul seen as generic.

The replacement of the seven dwarfs with CGI characters sparked debates about representation, with criticism that Disney avoided casting actors with dwarfism. Additionally, Zegler’s casting, as a Colombian-American, faced racist and xenophobic attacks, with some questioning her fit for the role due to the “Snow White” name.

Impact on Disney’s strategy

Snow White’s box office failure prompted Disney to reassess its live-action remake strategy. The studio paused production on a Tangled remake in its early stages, signaling a potential slowdown in adapting animated classics. Compared to other live-actions like The Lion King (2019), which grossed $1.6 billion, or Beauty and the Beast (2017), with $1.2 billion, Snow White’s performance was dismal.

The film’s global opening of $87.3 million fell short of other remakes, like Cinderella (2015), which opened with $67 million in the U.S. A 66% drop in U.S. box office in the second weekend confirmed pessimistic projections, with the film closing its U.S. theatrical run under $90 million.

• Comparison with other Disney live-actions:
  • The Lion King (2019): $1.6 billion globally.
  • Beauty and the Beast (2017): $1.2 billion globally.
  • Dumbo (2019): $353 million globally.
  • Snow White (2025): $205.6 million globally.

Limited marketing and behind-the-scenes tensions

The film’s promotional campaign was notably subdued. Disney held a low-key premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, with no press on the red carpet, only photographers and in-house teams. The lead actresses avoided joint appearances, except at the 2025 Oscars, where their cold interaction drew attention.

Rumors of discord between Gadot and Zegler spread, fueled by their social media posts. While Gadot promoted the film solo, Zegler used her platforms to highlight diversity and inclusion, also addressing criticism about her casting. Disney’s decision to limit international promotional events may have contributed to the film’s weak global performance.

Streaming success

Despite its theatrical failure, Snow White found a second life on Disney+. Since its June 2025 release on the platform, it became one of the most-watched titles, surpassing films like Lilo & Stitch and Prey: Predator. Public curiosity about the controversies and easy streaming access boosted its popularity, though it didn’t recover the financial losses.

• Factors driving Disney+ success:
  • Public curiosity about the controversies.
  • Platform accessibility to a broad audience.
  • Praise for Rachel Zegler’s performance.
  • Interest in revisiting the 1937 classic in a new format.

The streaming success suggests the film still drew significant viewership, especially among home audiences, but Disney faces challenges in restoring confidence in its live-action remakes after such a troubled project.

Public and industry reactions

The film sparked polarized reactions online. Some fans supported Zegler, praising her performance and advocacy for diversity, while others criticized her political posts, particularly after her statements against Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection. Gadot faced backlash from pro-Palestine groups but gained support from communities sharing her views.

In the industry, Snow White’s case sparked discussions about the impact of actors’ political stances on major productions. Analysts suggest Disney underestimated the controversies’ effect, especially amid global geopolitical tensions. Limiting the promotional campaign may have aimed to avoid further backlash but reduced the film’s visibility.

• Notable reactions:
  • Fan support for Zegler’s Latina representation.
  • Criticism of Gadot from pro-Palestine groups.
  • Debate over political posts impacting big-budget projects.

Film’s legacy

Despite its commercial failure, Snow White marked Disney’s 102-year history as one of its most controversial projects. The mix of political controversies, production criticism, and story changes created a challenging environment. Zegler’s casting and creative choices, like reimagining the dwarfs, were bold but divided audiences and critics.

The film highlighted the difficulty of adapting classic tales for modern audiences, especially in a world where representation and global politics shape public perception. Disney now faces the task of balancing innovation with fidelity to its classics while navigating an increasingly polarized audience.