Will Snow White Add to Disney’s Growing List of Money-Losing Movies?

Disney’s Snow White live-action remake is projected to lose a staggering $200 million when it hits theaters in March 2025, per MovieWeb. Could this be the latest addition to Disney’s growing pile of box office flops since January 2024? Let’s break down the numbers, misfires, and rare wins.

Disney’s Box Office Flops: January 2024 to March 2025

Disney’s had a rough year, with several high-budget films underperforming at the box office. Here’s a breakdown of each theatrical flop, including budgets, box office earnings, and estimated losses.

The Marvels (Marvel Studios, November 2023, but impacts 2024)

• Budget: $275 million
• Box Office: $206.1 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$100 million
• Why It Struggled: Oversaturation of MCU content, weak storytelling, and audience fatigue post-Avengers: Endgame.

Wish (Disney Animation, November 2023, but counted for 2024)

• Budget: $200 million
• Box Office: $254.7 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$50 million
• Why It Struggled: Failed to capture Disney Renaissance nostalgia, generic songs, and lackluster marketing.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm, June 2023, but impacts 2024)

• Budget: $295 million
• Box Office: $384.1 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$150 million
• Why It Struggled: Overreliance on nostalgia, a convoluted plot, and an aging protagonist in a crowded market.

Haunted Mansion (Disney Live-Action, July 2023, but counted for 2024)

• Budget: $150 million
• Box Office: $117.4 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$70 million
• Why It Struggled: Weak script, heavy CGI reliance, and a marketing campaign that didn’t click.

Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures, December 2023, but impacts 2024)

• Budget: $35 million
• Box Office: $117.5 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$10 million
• Why It Struggled: Critically acclaimed but niche appeal limited its mainstream success.

Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney Live-Action, December 2024)

• Budget: $200 million
• Box Office: $326.5 million globally
• Estimated Loss: ~$100 million
• Why It Struggled: Photorealistic CGI fatigue and a prequel story that failed to excite audiences.

Snow White (Disney Live-Action, March 2025, Projected)

• Budget: $250 million
• Box Office (Projected Opening): ~$150 million globally
• Estimated Loss (Projected): ~$200 million (after marketing, distribution, and industry write-downs, per Variety).
• Why It Might Struggle: Snow White’s live-action remake is teetering on disaster, with projections showing it underperforming compared to Disney’s past hits like The Lion King’s $191.8 million domestic opening, per Box Office Mojo. The teaser trailer sparked backlash over casting choices and comments from star Rachel Zegler, per The Hollywood Reporter, leaving fans skeptical on X about its direction. 

  Industry analysts estimate the film’s $250 million budget, plus $125 million in marketing and distribution costs (a conservative 50% of the budget, per Variety), totals $375 million in expenses. With projected global earnings of just $150 million—split with theaters leaving Disney ~$75 million, plus ~$25–$50 million in ancillary revenue, per The Numbers—the math spells a $200 million loss after accounting for tax credits and co-financing, per Deadline.

  Marketing missteps, audience fatigue with live-action remakes, and a lack of buzz could seal its fate, making Snow White a potential crown jewel in Disney’s flop parade. I’m chuckling at the irony, but for shareholders, it’s no fairy tale ending.

Total Losses: A Staggering $680 Million (And Counting, Without Snow White)

Summing the estimated losses—The Marvels ($100M), Wish ($50M), Indiana Jones ($150M), Haunted Mansion ($70M), Poor Things ($10M), and Mufasa ($100M)—Disney has lost roughly $480 million from January 2024 to March 2025.

Adding Snow White’s projected $200 million loss brings the total to $680 million.

Disney’s Box Office Wins: January 2024 to March 2025

Not all is doom and gloom—Disney has had some major theatrical hits. Here’s where they succeeded, including budgets, box office earnings, and estimated profits.

Inside Out 2 (Pixar, June 2024)

• Budget: $200 million
• Box Office: $1.69 billion globally
• Estimated Profit: ~$1 billion
• Why It Succeeded: Emotional storytelling, new characters like Anxiety, and strong family appeal.

Alien: Romulus (20th Century Studios, August 2024)

• Budget: $80 million
• Box Office: $349.1 million globally
• Estimated Profit: ~$200 million
• Why It Succeeded: A strong horror/sci-fi thriller that delivered classic Alien franchise tension.

Deadpool & Wolverine (Marvel Studios, July 2024)

• Budget: $200 million
• Box Office: $1.34 billion globally
• Estimated Profit: ~$900 million
• Why It Succeeded: Star power, humor, nostalgia, and a refreshing R-rated tone.

Total Profits: A Bright $2.1 Billion

Adding up the estimated profits—Inside Out 2 ($1B), Alien: Romulus ($200M), and Deadpool & Wolverine ($900M)—Disney earned roughly $2.1 billion in 2024–2025 theatrical profits.

That’s a silver lining, but it doesn’t fully offset the $680 million in losses—leaving a $1.42 billion net deficit if Snow White flops.

Is Audience Fatigue Over Progressive Politics a Factor?

Some industry observers and fans on X suggest audience fatigue over progressive political messaging could be contributing to Disney’s recent flops. Films like The Marvels, Wish, and Snow White faced criticism for heavy-handed diversity themes.

While not the sole reason, some audiences prefer stories focused on entertainment over messaging. This remains a divisive topic, but the box office numbers suggest something isn’t clicking with audiences.

Can Disney Turn It Around, or Is This the End of the Magic Kingdom?

With $680 million in losses and Snow White looming, Disney faces a major challenge. However, Inside Out 2’s $1.69 billion success and Deadpool & Wolverine’s $1.34 billion haul prove they can still deliver hits.

The question remains—will they pivot, or double down?

Addendum: Disney+ Series Losses (January 2024 to March 2025)

While this article focuses on theatrical releases, Disney’s streaming flops also hit hard.

The Acolyte (Lucasfilm, June 2024, Disney+)

• Budget: $180 million
• Viewership Impact: Dropped after episode 3, leading to ~$50 million in losses.
• Why It Struggled: Polarizing plot, high costs, and a disconnect with audiences.

Willow (Disney+, November 2022, but impacting 2024 financials)

• Budget: $172.3 million
• Viewership Impact: Canceled after one season, leading to ~$138 million in write-downs.
• Why It Struggled: High production costs, niche appeal, and failing to capture the original’s magic.

These losses further strain Disney’s finances, making their theatrical performance even more critical moving forward.

Final Thoughts: Can Disney Find Its Footing Again?

Disney’s recent box office performance paints a picture of a studio at a crossroads. With $680 million in losses, a potential $200 million disaster looming with Snow White, and an audience that seems increasingly disengaged from certain projects, it’s clear that the magic isn’t guaranteed anymore. However, massive successes like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine prove that audiences will still show up for the right stories.

Amid these struggles, Disney may have found a bright spot in its upcoming Lilo & Stitch live-action remake. The official trailer, released on March 12, 2025, has sparked genuine enthusiasm among fans, who praised its faithfulness to the original 2002 classic. Viewers have responded positively to its heartwarming portrayal of Lilo and Stitch, with many calling it a welcome return to form for Disney’s remakes. If this enthusiasm translates into box office success, Lilo & Stitch could signal that Disney still has the ability to craft live-action adaptations that resonate with audiences—provided they stay true to what made the originals special.

The real challenge for Disney is whether they can course-correct across the board, focusing on strong narratives, beloved franchises, and genuine audience appeal instead of relying on remakes, nostalgia, and corporate branding. The next few years will be critical—will Disney learn from its misfires and regain its storytelling dominance, or will the box office continue its downward spiral? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Hollywood—and Disney fans—will be watching closely.