Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has topped the North American box office, earning an estimated $87.3 million globally in its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.
However, despite its success, the film has faced widespread criticism and controversy.
Almost half of its earnings came from North America, but the numbers were lower than expected for a movie that reportedly cost over $270 million to produce.
Before its release, Snow White became a controversial topic, drawing criticism over its casting and changes to the original story. Some people were unhappy with the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as Snow White.
Others criticized comments made by Zegler on political issues, as well as remarks by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.
There was also debate over the decision to replace the traditional seven dwarfs with CGI characters.
In China, a key market for Hollywood films, Snow White failed to make the top five at the box office. It earned less than $1 million in its first three days in the country, which has a population of over 1.4 billion according to BBC.
Entertainment industry experts had predicted that the multiple controversies have dulled the film’s appeal.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 44% rating from critics, while the audience score stood at 73%.
Kevin Maher, chief film critic for The Times, wrote, “Believe the anti-hype, it’s that bad.”
However, Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney had a different view, calling the movie “mostly captivating.”
Despite the mixed reactions, Disney’s Snow White continues to attract audiences worldwide.
