Rachel Zegler’s performance in the 2025 live-action Snow White remake highlighted her talent but also underscored her challenges in achieving box office success. Despite being heralded as one of Hollywood’s promising new talents since her breakout role in West Side Story, Zegler’s film career has been punctuated by several commercial letdowns, with Snow White marking the latest in this string of disappointments.
This iteration of Snow White aimed to be a significant addition to Disney’s range of live-action remakes, yet the film was beset by a series of controversies prior to its release. Unfortunately, this negativity impacted its opening performance. Despite high expectations from Disney, Snow White underperformed significantly at the box office, leading critics and audiences to place an unfair amount of blame on Zegler, even though her talents should not be questioned.
Analyzing Snow White’s Box Office Shortcomings
Still Below $100 Million
Disney has a track record of launching successful live-action remakes, which often gross high revenues despite critical reviews. For example, the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King surpassed $1 billion in earnings. However, the Snow White remake, which boasted a staggering budget of $270 million, was not expected to reach such lofty heights, especially given the original animated feature’s release date of 1937.
Prior to its release, Snow White faced a barrage of negative press, leading to revised projections for its opening weekend box office haul which was cut down from initial estimates of $63-70 million to just $45-55 million. Currently, with a total revenue of only $92.6 million, the film’s failure to meet benchmarks has become evident, particularly given its substantial financial investment.
To break even, the movie likely needs to gross around $500 million, a feat that seems increasingly improbable as it limps along the box office. Despite a potential uptick in performance over the coming weeks, the negative sentiment surrounding the film casts serious doubt on this outcome. Ultimately, Snow White may emerge as one of Disney’s most significant box office underperformers.
Rachel Zegler’s Track Record of Box Office Challenges
A Single Notable Success
Regrettably, Zegler’s role in Snow White is not her first encounter with box office struggles. Her film debut in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story was critically acclaimed but grossed just $76 million against a $100 million budget, likely hindered by reduced theater attendance during the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this, her participation in Shazam! Fury of the Gods yielded disappointing box office returns of $134.1 million—less than half of its predecessor’s earnings.
Next, Zegler appeared in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which performed better at the box office with $349 million on a $100 million budget. However, this marked the lowest box office figure for any film in the Hunger Games franchise. Subsequent projects like Y2K, which grossed a mere $4.4 million from a $15 million budget, further added to her challenges, which continued with her involvement in a streaming project titled Spellbound.
A Common Factor, Not the Culprit for Underperformance
Issues Exist, but She’s Not to Blame
While Rachel Zegler may seem to be a recurrent factor in these box office disappointments, it’s essential to recognize that she is not responsible for their financial failure. Critics and fans alike have consistently highlighted her performances as standout moments, while external issues have plagued the projects she’s been attached to. Each film’s lackluster performance can often be attributed to factors beyond her control.
The release of West Side Story coincided with a challenging post-pandemic landscape for cinema, while Shazam! Fury of the Gods suffered from the waning interest in the DCEU. Furthermore, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes entered a marketplace devoid of new content from the franchise for several years. Lastly, Zegler’s role in Y2K relied on a niche nostalgia that limited its audience.
Ultimately, Rachel Zegler’s films are often hampered by poor timing, negative press, or lackluster content—not her performances. In Snow White, she delivers once again, but the film’s controversies, critical reviews, and the general audience’s fatigue with Disney remakes overshadow her contributions.
Potential for Snow White as a Box Office Success
On the Brink of Success
Despite its struggles at the box office, Snow White has the potential to become one of Rachel Zegler’s more successful projects. To date, only The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Shazam! Fury of the Gods have surpassed $100 million in earnings for Zegler. With modest increases in revenue, Snow White is likely to cross this threshold, although it may fall short of matching the $349 million earned by The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.