The final numbers are in for Disney’s live-action Snow White, and they are painting a difficult picture for the studio’s theatrical division. According to recent financial filings and reports released in February 2026, Disney has lost approximately $170 million on the project. This makes the reimagining of Walt Disney’s first-ever princess one of the most significant theatrical misses in the company’s modern history.
While a global box office of $205.7 million might sound substantial in isolation, it was not enough to overcome a production budget that ballooned to $336.5 million. Even after a $64.9 million tax reimbursement from the United Kingdom government, Disney was left with a net production expense of $271.6 million. When you factor in that movie theaters typically keep roughly half of all ticket sales, Disney’s actual share of the revenue was only about $103 million, leaving a massive hole in the balance sheet.
A Surprising Success On Streaming
Despite the theatrical struggle, the film has found a remarkably strong second life on Disney+. Shortly after its streaming debut in June 2025, Snow White surged to the No. 1 spot on global viewership charts. Analytics indicate that the film experienced a 405% spike in viewership during its first five days on the platform, even outperforming several major Marvel releases in total minutes viewed during its first quarter on the service.
The film’s star, Rachel Zegler, has been vocal about this digital success. In recent interviews, Zegler defended the project, noting that “it was number one on streaming,” which she believes proves the film is being “celebrated” by families at home. While streaming views do not provide the same immediate cash flow as a theater ticket, they do help Disney retain subscribers and justify the massive investment for their “direct-to-consumer” strategy.
Comparing The Competition
The financial fallout of Snow White is even more striking when compared to Disney’s other 2025 efforts. While the princess remake faltered in theaters, the live-action Lilo & Stitch became a massive $1 billion hit just months later. This contrast suggests that while audience appetite for remakes remains high, the specific creative choices and pre-release controversies surrounding Snow White may have played a significant role in its theatrical rejection.
During a February 2026 earnings call, Disney CFO Hugh Johnston acknowledged the “negative impact” the film had on the studio’s results. Moving forward, Disney is reportedly applying much stricter budget controls to future live-action projects like the upcoming Moana remake. The $170 million loss serves as a major cautionary tale for the industry on the importance of managing production costs against an increasingly unpredictable box office.
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