‘Snow White’ became one of the most controversial remakes from Disney, receiving great backlash from the fans for various reasons. Although previous projects also received similar criticism from viewers, none ever reached this level.
So, ahead of the film’s release on March 21, 2025, let’s see what caused all that backlash and what studios should know before approaching new adaptations.
1. Fans Expect Loyalty to the Original Story
‘Snow White’ remake hinted at big changes to the 1937 original story since the early promos when Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot said new story focused on the princess’ journey becoming a good leader. This received great criticism from fans who wanted a live-action movie that stayed true to the key elements of the animation, where true love broke the Evil Queen’s deadly curse.
While open to some modern twists here and there, most fans prefer adaptations that keep the main essence of beloved stories intact like 2012’s ‘Mirror Mirror,’ often mentioned as a better example of that.
2. Trailers Are Crucial for First Impressions
In addition to a good story, a trailer that will reflect its quality is crucial to attract viewers. ‘Snow White’s teasers didn’t receive much enthusiasm so far, for example. Many said their tones didn’t fit the original story’s vibe. Some also criticized the visuals, saying they lacked the natural elements.
3. Casting Choices Matter
The first glimpse of Rachel Zegler in the trailer made things worse for the film. Many people, who already felt she wasn’t the right choice to play Snow White, blasted her appearance more, claiming she did not match the character described as ‘white as snow.’ Some comments on YouTube even said she didn’t look flattering in the role.
4. Social Media Reactions Spread Rapidly
With that, Zegler’s comments about the original movie caused problems as she described the animated classic as outdated, and said its love story was creepy. The actress even joked the Prince could be removed from the remake to show Snow White’s strength and independence.
Fans believed all these remarks that quickly went viral were disrespectful both to the Disney original and Zegler’s co-star Andrew Burnap. It turns out people prefer opinions that honor their favorite stories’ legacy than those that sound like undermining them.
5. Fans Now Expect More
Whatever the material, fans always have high expectations for remakes, especially with the development of technology. On top of similar stories and characters, viewers expect higher quality visuals and effects on screen. That’s why one of the disliked parts of ‘Snow White’ is the Dwarves, who were changed from various magical creatures to CGI versions of the animated characters. Most wanted to see actual actors with Dwarfism on screen rather than digitally made copies.
