Disney’s new Snow White live-action remake has changed the meaning behind one of the тιтle’s most iconic quotes, redefining the qualities of the “fairest in the land.” 2025’s Snow White film, directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), received something of a reputation long before hitting theaters due to the notably announced changes from the story movie lovers have known and loved for over a century. The film makes a concerted effort to change the primary dynamics, continuing ongoing debates about faithful adaptations and modernization of beloved stories.

Regardless, this is the movie Marc Webb and Disney wanted to make, and though it has some differences from the 1937 classic, it still sends a powerful message. Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot play Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, and with the changing of the meaning behind “fairest in the land” comes changes to their dicH๏τomy. All of this is worth analyzing to understand the feats and weaknesses of the new film and how it compares to the original. Snow White’s reviews include a 44% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, though a more favorable 71% from audiences.

What “Fairest In The Land” Meant In The Original Snow White Movie

The 1937 Movie Focused On External Beauty

The term comes from the Evil Queen’s famous line, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” and is an integral part of the Snow White and fairy tale mythos. In the original 1937 movie, this was used to describe outward beauty. The Evil Queen wanted to be known as the most beautiful woman in the land and went after Snow White when the magic mirror declared that she was truly the fairest. The phrase is also used in fairy tales like “The Frog Prince,” also published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.

​​​​​​The noun fair is used as a synonym for beautiful, but it’s crucial to note that throughout human history, standards of what it means to be beautiful have constantly changed due to cultural context. In 1937, when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was first developed, launching Disney into the powerhouse it is today, this may have been an acceptable depiction of how society viewed this word. However, the world has changed drastically in the past 88 years, leading to changes in the new film.

Snow White’s Live-Action Remake Updates The Meaning Of “Fairest In The Land”

Internal Qualities Define “Fairness”

2025’s version of Snow White changes the meaning of “fairest in the land” to represent something new. Rather than external beauty, being the fairest means having a strong ability to connect with people. It considers internal qualities like kindness, compᴀssion, leadership, and more. Snow White’s sense of compᴀssion radiates throughout the film, helping the dwarfs learn to get along, convincing the Huntsman to spare her life, and even helping Jonathan find purpose, showing him that he can be a better man and even a hero.

One of the controversies surrounding the new Snow White movie was about the star, Rachel Zegler, who exclaimed that her version of the character wouldn’t be a damsel in distress. While this upset fans of the original movie, it’s true to the ideals Marc Webb’s version instills. In this movie, Snow White isn’t just a beautiful woman to be saved by the Prince; she’s a hero and a leader in her own right. That’s why she is the fairest in the land, unlike the Evil Queen, who’s nothing more than a vicious dictator. Read Rachel Zegler’s full quote below:

“I just mean that it’s no longer 1937. We absolutely wrote a Snow White that… she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”

Snow White’s New “Fairest In The Land” Meaning Connects To The Movie’s Themes

The New Movie Modernizes Snow White’s Themes

As mentioned, the new rendition of Snow White has provided an update on the movie’s morals, a common theme among recent Disney remakes and one that is sure to cause a divisive response among audiences. It’s clear that the divide between the Evil Queen and Snow White isn’t one of physical beauty; an entirely subjective quality. Instead, it’s about their nature. The Evil Queen is a terrible leader, as shown by her “All Is Fair” song, one of the original additions to the Snow White 2025 soundtrack.

Recent Disney movies have commonly considered similar ideals, and while many of these movies, including Snow White, have points of criticism worth discussing, these themes do seem to be a positive change. The difference between the meaning of “fair” isn’t harmful to the film, and though the new version of Snow White has its problems, this detail isn’t something worth harking on. For a movie made to be family-friendly, maintaining strong and positive values is worthwhile.