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Credit: Inside the MagicDisney’s live-action remakes have long been a reliable box office draw, but Disney’s Snow White (2025) proved to be a far more complicated story—both on and off the screen. Rachel Zegler’s turn as the iconic princess was meant to usher in a new era for the character. Instead, it sparked one of Disney’s most divisive remake rollouts in recent memory.
From the outset, Snow White faced an uphill climb. Delayed from its original 2024 release, the film finally arrived in March 2025 amid heightened expectations and intense online scrutiny. Much of that centered on Zegler’s earlier comments about modernizing the character—moving away from romance and traditional fairy-tale tropes.
While some audiences welcomed the updated direction, others felt the film strayed too far from the 1937 animated classic. The result was a mixed reception that translated into disappointing box office numbers, with the film earning just over $205 million globally—well below what was needed to turn a profit on its reported $270 million budget.
The conversation didn’t stop at the film itself. Reports of tensions between Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot (Evil Queen), combined with broader political discourse surrounding both actors, added another layer of complexity.
Disney notably scaled back its promotional efforts, a move that only fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes challenges. By the time the film reached streaming on Disney+, curiosity had replaced anticipation. And yet, the film found a second life there, climbing charts and drawing significant viewership.
As awards season rolled around, Snow White made headlines once again—this time at the Razzie Awards. Wins for Worst Supporting Actor (awarded to the film’s dwarfs) and Worst Screen Combo capped off a turbulent journey for the remake.
Disney Buries Snow White With New Live-Action Remakes
Lilo & Stitch
While Snow White struggled, Dean Fleischer Camp’s Lilo & Stitch (2025) told a very different story. Initially planned as a Disney+ release, the film pivoted to theaters—and that decision paid off in a big way.
Debuting over Memorial Day weekend, the remake shattered expectations with a massive opening and eventually soared past $1 billion worldwide. The success underscored that audiences are still eager for Disney nostalgia—when it strikes the right balance between honoring the original and updating it for modern viewers.
As Disney has confirmed multiple times, the Stitch brand is extremely lucrative, more so at times than Mickey Mouse himself. Due to the success of the first live-action movie, a Lilo & Stitch 2 has been greenlit and will be released in May 2028 under new CEO Josh D’Amaro’s watch.
Moana (2026): Disney’s Next Big Test
All eyes now turn to Moana, which is poised to be Disney’s next major box office smash. Given the enduring popularity of the original, expectations are high. However, Snow White has shown that success is far from guaranteed. If Moana can capture the spirit of the beloved animated film while avoiding controversy, it could follow in Lilo & Stitch’s footsteps.
That said, the recently released trailer–while becoming incredibly divisive due to its visual style–shows a movie that is almost a like-for-like reimagining of the animated movie. The likeness to its 2016 source material is something Snow White strayed far from, with its tonal, story, and character differences.
Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui in Thomas Kail’s Moana (2016) remake, with newcomer Catherine Laga’aia replacing Auliʻi Cravalho as the titular character. Cravalho serves as executive producer on the movie. Johnson recently addressed the importance of heritage in the upcoming movie, which was announced in 2023.
“We were doing our best to make sure that we were always representing our Polynesian culture in every department,” Johnson told Entertainment Weekly. “Some department heads, story, development, just everything.”
Thomas Kail went on to discuss the transition from animation to live-action feature film. “How do you honor this? How do you say ‘we love it too’ and make it something that can be a companion and not try to be the same thing, but also trust what works?” the Hamilton director told the outlet. “The opportunity to have flesh and blood and have human beings tell the story and sing these songs and be in this world, there’s something so fundamentally different about that experience of watching and feeling that.”
What About Tangled?
Then there’s the live-action Tangled. While the project has yet to receive a confirmed release date, it represents another key test for Disney’s remake strategy. Excitement is already being generated for the upcoming remake following the announcement of the main cast. Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim were confirmed to play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, respectively, with Kathryn Hahn boarding the movie as antagonist Mother Gothel.
With its devoted fanbase and modern fairy-tale charm, Tangled has strong potential. But after the mixed reception to Snow White, Disney will likely tread carefully—ensuring that any adaptation remains faithful to what audiences loved about the original.
A Changing Landscape for Disney Remakes
Taken together, these films highlight a shifting landscape under Josh D’Amaro’s leadership. The era of guaranteed billion-dollar remakes may be over, replaced by a more unpredictable reality where audience expectations—and online discourse—play a larger role than ever.
For Disney, the lesson is clear: nostalgia alone isn’t enough.
What live-action remake are you most looking forward to? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!