On Friday, March 21, 2025, Disney released its newest, live-action remake of a Disney Princess, Snow White. Numerous viewers are reacting negatively to the film after its release, considering Disney has made several questionable decisions in its creation.
From movie choices that feel disconnected from the essence of the original character to significant mismanagement of resources, “Snow White” (2025) leaves many wondering if the film was worth the investment, including myself.
2025’s “Snow White” is an excellent reimagining of the classic tale; however, there are some aspects of the film that I strongly believe should’ve been handled differently.
“I was worried the new movie wouldn’t compare [to the original] but it ended up being really cute,” Sophie Spencer told The Fanscotian. Spencer played Snow White in the SPFHS production of “Game of Tiaras.” “The only thing that I wished they kept [in the live-action is] more original [singing] from the animated version.”
While Rachel Zegler’s acting and vocals portray a beautiful Disney princess, she would have been a better fit for the role of Snow White if her vocals were similar to the original movie. After starring as “Maria” in the 2021 production of “West Side Story,” Zegler has proven that she is capable of singing in a high soprano range and feminine-like in the way that the original character, Snow White does. In the 2025 production of “Snow White,” she sings primarily in her chest voice, causing the character to feel more like a modern, generic heroine than the innocent, kind-hearted figure we know from the original. 2025’s “Snow White” is supposed to be empowered, bold and determined — but instead of feeling like a true evolution of the character, she comes across as a version of “girl power.”
“There are many princesses out there that already [deliver] that ‘girl-power’ vibe,” senior Arianne Henry said. “Walt Disney [created] the character [of] Snow White to be very traditionally feminine and romantic, unlike the other princesses, so I wish the live remake of the movie would have [taken that into account].”
Since the casting announcement in 2021, fans—including myself—have debated the casting of Zegler for the role of Snow White due to her dismissive words about the original 1937 film, according to BBC.com. The audience of the 2025 “Snow White” in movie theaters isn’t as large as Disney had hoped because the lead actress, Zegler has “[ruined] the movie’s reputation [and] represented it [poorly]”, according to Kambrea Pratt of Pirates and Princesses. While the live-action film was enjoyable, and Zegler demonstrated great talent, her publicly displayed reaction to the original film prevented the new one from being as successful as can be. I agree with some members of the public that Zegler would have only been truly deserving of her starring role if she respected the original inspiration for this movie.
Aside from the character of Snow White, one of the most heated debates surrounding the 2025 “Snow White” adaptation is Disney’s decision to use CGI for the seven dwarves instead of casting actors with dwarfism. For many in the dwarfism community, this film could have been a groundbreaking opportunity for representation, providing talented actors—who have long waited for roles beyond stereotypical portrayals—with a chance to shine in a major Hollywood production. Instead, the choice to rely on CGI has sparked frustration, as it not only sidelines these actors but also diminishes the importance of authentic representation in storytelling.
While the live-action “Snow White” features many heartfelt moments and notable qualities, its audience seems to have been underwhelmed by certain creative choices. The film grossed an estimated $50 million during its opening weekend, a far cry from the $250 million production budget, which was heavily impacted by the film’s substantial CGI costs. Moving forward, Disney may want to pay closer attention to fan feedback—casting actors with dwarfism or staying true to the original Snow White’s essence, for example, could have been more well-received choices.
