Disney’s Controversial Box Office Bomb Finds Success on Streaming

Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, originally considered a box office bomb, has found new life as a streaming hit. It’s a reminder that just because a film flops in theaters doesn’t mean it won’t find an audience elsewhere. With streaming platforms offering a wide range of movies at our fingertips, it’s not uncommon for movies that struggled in theaters to gain popularity in the comfort of our homes.

After its recent release on Disney+, Snow White quickly rose to become the No. 1 film on the platform, surpassing both the original animated Lilo & Stitch and the new release Predator: Killer of Killers. Despite facing controversies like criticism of the portrayal of the seven dwarves and conflicting viewpoints on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from its stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, Snow White failed to impress in theaters, grossing just $205.6 million worldwide against a budget of $240-270 million.

Disney was likely disappointed by Snow White’s performance at the box office, particularly in the wake of other underperforming releases like Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts. However, the silver lining for Disney is that Lilo & Stitch seems poised to cross the $1 billion mark, softening the blow of Snow White’s lackluster performance.

The shorter theatrical window for movies means viewers can be more selective about what they choose to see in theaters. If a film doesn’t seem worth the trip to the cinema, many are content to wait for it to become available for streaming. Snow White’s strong showing on Disney+ demonstrates the appeal of watching it from home, especially given the mixed reviews it received when it premiered in theaters.

While Disney would have preferred Snow White to be a box office hit, it can take comfort in its success on streaming platforms. However, there are lessons to be learned from Snow White’s performance, reminding Disney to be more discerning in choosing which projects to pursue. Despite Snow White’s disappointing box office run, there’s still potential for success in bringing beloved animated classics to live-action, as seen with Lilo & Stitch, which is expected to follow a similar path of box office success and streaming popularity.