Snow White‘s performance at the domestic box office may look similar to another successful Disney live-action movie, but there is a key difference that should be kept in mind. The House of Mouse has been all about live-action remakes over the last decade, but these projects are far from guaranteed successes. There have been some hits, but the years have proven that Disney is taking a gamble every time it adapts an animated classic into live action. In the case of Snow White, the gamble didn’t quite pay off.

The animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) is a Disney staple, so it’s no big surprise that it got the live-action treatment. Unfortunately, 2025’s Snow White has significantly underperformed, only managing $83 million at the domestic box office so far. This is even more concerning considering Snow White’s rather large budget of about $270 million (estimated), and that’s not even including the millions of dollars in promotional costs. It’s looking unlikely that Snow White will break even, and we may be safe to call this movie a flop—but then why are its numbers so similar to a previous Disney hit?

Snow White’s Domestic Box Office Is Similar To 2021’s Cruella

One Is Considered A Failure & One A Success – But Their Numbers Are Similar

Though Snow White‘s performance is disappointing, its domestic box office numbers are pretty similar to Disney’s 2021 hit, Cruella. This movie was a financial win for Disney, but its opening weekend was even worse than Snow White‘s, with only $21.5 million brought in at the box office (compared to the $42 million brought in by the 2025 movie). Overall, Cruella made $86 million at the domestic box office, and Snow White is close on its tail with its $83 million. These numbers suggest that the two Disney live-action movies should be categorized the same in terms of success, but it’s more complicated than that.

There are several things to keep in mind when analyzing a movie’s success at the box office. Budget is a mᴀssive factor, since a movie that costs less to make has a lower break-even point. Additionally, it’s important to pay attention to other ways that a production company plans to bring in cash. Certain movies have higher potential for merchandise profits, and in the age of streaming, companies like Disney can more than make up costs with new subscribers and sufficient views. When observing all these factors, Cruella stood out as a clear winner, while Snow White is unlikely to stack up.

How Snow White’s Budget Compared To Cruella’s

Cruella Was A Much Cheaper Movie To Make

Snow White‘s budget of about $270 is pretty mᴀssive, all things considered. To break even, Disney would have to make about double that, and such a goal seems entirely out of reach at this point. Cruella, on the other hand, cost Disney far less money. The 2021 film’s estimated budget was only about $100 million. Cruella came close to covering that with just its domestic box office, and its global earnings of $234 million closed the gap even further.

Another essential factor to remember is that Disney really wasn’t banking on the box office with Cruella. The movie was released only two years after the launch of Disney+ in 2019, and it was used as a significant motivator for new subscribers. The promotional material for Cruella really leaned into the fact that audiences could skip the theater and watch from the comfort of their own home. Streamers could pay a “Premium” cost on Disney+ to watch Cruella the same day it hit theaters, and it was free to stream only a few months later. Snow White, on the other hand, was specifically meant to be a mᴀssive theatrical event.

Cruella’s Box Office Potential Was Hurt By The Ongoing Pandemic In 2021

Disney Didn’t Expect A Great Theatrical Turnout

Disney’s streaming plan for Cruella was a smart move, not only because of the relatively recent rollout of Disney+, but also because the world wasn’t ready to head back to the theaters yet. The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020 and was still ongoing by the time Cruella was released in May 2021. Social distancing made going to the theaters difficult, and people were generally more comfortable staying home. Now, in 2025, box offices have finally begun to get back to something like normal (though general performance is still lower than 2019). Disney seemed to hope that Snow White would make it.

Ultimately, Cruella’s success inspired Disney to invest in more live-action movies inspired by animated classics, and a sequel was greenlit (though it continues to face delays). Snow White, on the other hand, has reportedly caused the House of Mouse to put a hold on other similar projects. Overall, Snow White and Cruella are great examples of how bringing in the same amount of cash doesn’t necessarily reflect the same level of success.