Disney’sSnow Whitepushes Rachel Zegler past a career box office milestone, as the remake becomes her second-highest-grossing movie amid controversy and review bombs. Disney’s latest live-action remake updates their 1937 animated classic, which was based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It follows the eponymous pure-hearted princess (played by Zegler) who teams up with the seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot).Snow White’s live-action remake castalso includes Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, and Patrick Page.
Now, after playing in theaters for over a week, the movie has pushed its star past a career milestone. PerThe Numbers,Snow Whiteis now Rachel Zegler’s second-highest-grossing movie, behindThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes($349 million worldwide), and she has also hit a cumulative career record of $700 million. Currently,Snow White’s running worldwide total breaks down to $66.9 million domestically and $75.8 million internationally for a grand total of $142.7 million globally.
What Snow White’s Box Office Milestone Means For Rachel Zegler
It Marks A Significant Milestone, But Is Another Box Office Bomb
Rachel Zegler rose from relative obscurity with her role asMaría in Steven Spielberg’sWest Side Story, which won her a Golden Globe. However, released during the pandemic in 2021, the musical remake bombed at the box office, making only $76 million. Zegler expanded her career by playing Anthea in DC’sShazam! Fury of the Gods, which was also a box-office disappointment, making only $134 million.The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesis easily the biggest box office hit of Zegler’scareer, making $349 million against its $100 million budget.
In 2024, Zegler starred in A24’sY2K, which also bombed at the box office, grossing only $4.4 million.
Snow Whiteis Zegler’s first movie to be marred by significant controversy, surrounding its color-blind casting, alterations to the storyline, her outspoken criticism of the original movie, her and Gadot’s differing views on Israel–Palestine, and the reimagining of the Seven Dwarfs. While it has seen mixed audience reactions, these controversies have contributed toSnow White’s review bombingwhich, with a 1.5 user rating on IMDb, led the site to issue a disclaimer warning of “unusual voting activity.” Rotten Tomatoes gives a clearer picture, with a 40% score from critics and 74% from audiences.
Our Take On Snow White’s Box Office
Will It Hurt Rachel Zegler’s Career?
Though it has resulted in several milestones, becoming her second-highest-grossing movie and pushing her past $700 million for her career,Snow Whiteis still shaping up to be another box office bomb for Zegler. It’s estimated thatSnow Whiteneeds to make $500 million to reach its “box office safety net.” This is due to its massive estimated production budget of $240–270 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made.
Snow White’s Box Office Explained: How Much Has It Made, Is It A Bomb, And Did The Controversy Hurt It?
Snow White’s opening weekend box office numbers have been unveiled, begging the question of what it earned and whether it can be classed as a flop.
ThoughSongbirds & Snakeswas a solid success, Zegler has now had four films bomb at the box office.This trend could start to impact her future opportunitiesin Hollywood, as studios may be hesitant to cast her in major blockbusters. However, some ofSnow White’s failures stem from factors beyond her control, so she still deserves the benefit of the doubt moving forward.
Could Zegler Overcome Her Box Office Struggle In The Future?
Her Upcoming Projects Are Unknown
In the wake of so many box office disappointments, it is unclearwhat is next for Rachel Zegleron the big screen. For the time being,she does not have any officially announced movie projects in the works, and she has not filmed anything since she finished reshoots onSnow White, which took place almost a year ago. However, in the meantime she has continued her robust stage career, starring opposite Kit Connor in Broadway’sRomeo + Julietin 2024 and getting set to start playing Eva Perón in a West End staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber’sEvitain July.
Kit Connor is a rising star known for his work inHeartstopper,The Wild Robot, and the upcomingWarfare.
However, one element of her work that offers hope is that, even with her critical and commercial failures (a roster that also includes the animated musicalSpellbound, which has 48% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 49% from audiences),her performances in particular tend to draw praise. This was the case with her Disney live-action remake as well. Despite earning a Rotten Tomatoes splat, many critics singled her out as a bright spot in the movie, includingScreenRant’s own Rachel Labonte. Read an excerpt from her 5 out of 10Snow Whitereviewbelow:
In her latest blockbuster project, Zegler (West Side Story, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) continues to prove she is a star of the highest order. Whether she’s acting opposite CGI dwarfs or belting out a heartfelt solo, she commits fully to the role and embodies the true ideal of a fairytale princess. So much of Snow White’s plot hinges on characters being willing to risk everything for her because of her compassion and good heart, and Zegler portrays it all so beautifully that we don’t doubt for a second that others would fall under her spell so easily.
Ultimately, it is unclear what theSnow Whitestar could take on next in Hollywood. Given their box office performance, it seemsunlikely that eitherSnow WhiteorShazam! Fury of the Godswill ever get direct sequelsthat offer her easy opportunities to reprise her roles. Additionally, whileThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis being followed by the upcomingHunger GamesprequelSunrise on the Reaping, that movie will take place 40 years later, most likely preventing her from reprising her role. Thus, while a return to the screen is possible, her next onscreen performance remains a mystery.
