Disney's Snow White Movie Opens Strong
The movie's message of kindness, fairness, and standing up against cruelty is seen as welcome, and its new songs have been praised for adding to the story and characters. As the film continues to play in theaters, it will be interesting to see how it holds up against other releases, including "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Mickey 17".
Disney's live-action remake of Snow White has opened with a strong $16 million on its opening day, making it a top performer on box office charts, with Rachel Zegler shining as Snow White and Gal Gadot playing the Evil Queen.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its new take on the classic story and others criticizing its inconsistent tone and CGI elements. The Seven Dwarfs, brought to life through CGI, have been criticized for their awkward and overly realistic renderings. However, the film's new songs, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, have been praised for adding to the story and characters.
Despite the mixed reviews, audiences have been more positive, with Cinema Score turning in a "B+" grade. The film is on track to land within projections for an opening weekend north of $45 million, second only to fellow Disney release "Captain America: Brave New World". However, with a massive production cost of over $250 million, the film needs to play like a four-quadrant tentpole to be profitable.
In contrast, Warner Bros.' "The Alto Knights" has bombed, earning only $1.17 million across Friday and previews, playing in 2,651 theaters. The crime drama, starring Robert De Niro, has a $45 million production cost and has been met with a shrug by critics and audiences alike.
The success of Disney's Snow White will be closely watched, as it is a key test of the studio's ability to remake classic animated films into live-action blockbusters. With its strong opening and positive audience response, the film is off to a good start, but it will need to continue to perform well to justify its high production cost.