The Price of a Fairytale: ‘Snow White' Actually Cost $350M
Did anyone really believe Disney when they told Deadline that ‘Snow White' had a $270 million budget? Because I sure didn't.
The numbers never added up. Forbes pegged the cost at $270M back in December 2023—before reshoots and post-production even took place. Now, The New York Times has blown the lid off, revealing that Disney actually spent upwards of $350M.
That's right: the studio tried to shave off $80M from the conversation. Why? Because ‘Snow White' is an outright catastrophe, and they needed someone—anyone—to take the fall. Enter Rachel Zegler, who found herself scapegoated in an industry desperate to dodge accountability.
How Bad Is It? Do the Math.
‘Snow White' would need to rake in at least $800M just to break even. And even that's generous—I'm not even applying the customary 2.5x rule.
Instead, the film limped into theaters with an $87M opening weekend worldwide. If industry trends hold, it might not even hit $250M globally before disappearing from screens. You don't need a finance degree to see where this is going: ‘Snow White' is on track to be one of the biggest bombs in movie history.
Where Did the Money Go?
Here's a fun fact: ‘Snow White' originally had a budget of $180M. By the time it wrapped, that number had nearly doubled. The reason? Multiple rounds of reshoots, rewrites, and one Peter Dinklage-led controversy that forced Disney into a costly overhaul.
Dinklage—never one to hold back—slammed Disney for its portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs, calling it regressive. The studio panicked. Instead of casting actors with dwarfism, they pivoted to CGI. And CGI, as history has shown (cough ‘Cats' cough), is never cheap.
So here's the question: How much money would Disney have saved if they had just stuck with the original plan? If they ignored the backlash and went practical instead of digital?
The Real Cost of Studio Panic
At its core, ‘Snow White' isn't just a case of overspending—it's a masterclass in corporate self-sabotage. Disney tried to thread an impossible needle, attempting to modernize a classic while still keeping traditional audiences happy. The result? A film that alienated both camps.
Could it have been salvaged? Maybe. But no amount of CGI dwarves or sanitized PR statements can change the reality: Disney spent $350 million making a movie that no one wanted. And now, they're paying the price.
What's Next for Disney?
‘Snow White' is just the latest in a string of financial misfires (The Marvels, Indiana Jones 5, Wish). The real question is: how many more bombs can Disney afford before shareholders start asking serious questions?
What do you think? Did Disney seal its own fate with ‘Snow White'? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
