Why People Will Forget About ‘Snow White’

Well, the early results are in the book, and Disney’s squarely in meme territory.

The studio’s movie box office results thus far are best described as, “They had us in the first half.”

From an optimist’s perspective, Disney claims two of the top three openings of 2025 to date, but that’s…unimpressive.

As I mentioned late last year, the company was in survival territory during the first quarter of 2025.

Now, Disney can move on to what comes next, which should be decidedly more positive.

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Let’s talk about the rest of Disney’s 2025, which should prove that the grass is greener on the other side of March.

What Just Happened?

Photo: Also Disney+

When Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania came out in 2023, I honestly thought Disney had hit rock bottom.

The poorly received film disappointed at the box office, settling for a modest $476 million. And I thought that wasn’t good.

Photo: Marvel

On Valentine’s Day 2025, Disney released Captain America: Brave New World in theaters.

The most positive thing I can say about the film is that it still finished in the top three at the box office six weekends later.

Photo: Collider

Alas, the Marvel movie earned a paltry $4 million for the weekend of March 21^st. The box office is just that bad right now.

For Disney, Brave New World has proven a mediocre investment, though. The film has barely crossed $400 million in box office.

Marvel

I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but it’s looking up at Quantumania. So…yikes!

Somehow, that total appears terrific in comparison to Snow White, which performed predictably awful last week.

Photo: Entertainment Weekly

The film fell well short of its modest opening weekend expectations, and it may not stay in theaters long.

Disney spent at least $240 million on a film that won’t turn a profit in theaters.

Photo: Marvel

But the strange part is that Disney had braced for both outcomes.

I’ve known for a while that Disney simply wanted to survive the first quarter of 2025.

Photo: Entertainment Weekly

The negative buzz of Brave New World and Snow White was justified. Neither film was up to snuff by Disney standards.

Disney marketed Brave New World to snag a solid debut and hoped for the best.

Photo: Disney

With Snow White, it basically abandoned the project. Disney even scaled back the red-carpet premieres, a rarity.

Disney wanted to endure these two setbacks before moving on to brighter days…and they’re coming!

Disney’s Next Three Movies

The Amateur

May is when the tide turns for Disney, although the studio will release another film before then.

The Amateur, which was once set for a 2024 release, finally arrives in theaters on April 11^th.

IMDB

While the movie may be good, it probably won’t do much box office, which is fine. It’s not that kind of film.

Disney makes movies like this to keep the talent happy and make them want to work with the studio more.

Photo: Marvel

The real test comes when Thunderbolts* debuts on May 2^nd, which is historically a huge weekend for the box office.

What I’ll say about Thunderbolts* is that Brave New World famously required numerous reshoots.

Marvel

Disney was happy about Thunderbolts* from day one. It’s supposed to be a classic Marvel title.

The only reason I have any reason to doubt it is because the company once felt the same way about Eternals.

Photo: Marvel

Still, I fully expect Thunderbolts* to do for Marvel what Elemental did for Pixar. It’ll remind people how much they love the brand.

By the end of May, everyone should be head over heels in love with Disney again after Lilo & Stitch opens.

Photo: Disney

These two films may singlehandedly cause everyone to forget about Brave New World and Snow White.

If you doubt this, please remember that Dumbo bombed in 2019.

Nobody remembers that because Aladdin came out the same year.

Photo Credit: Daniel Smith – Disney

For whatever reason, people remember hits and easily overlook duds.

This inexplicable behavior should give Disney a clean slate heading into the heart of the summer.

Elio, Tron, and the Hits

Fantastic Four: First Steps

Summer box office will include a bit of intrigue for Disney.

On paper, two titles appear likely to perform exceptionally well.

Fantastic Four: First Steps

I’ve heard nothing but great things about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which delights me as a Fantastic Four fan.

Similarly, Disney has timed the nostalgia factor perfectly with its sequel to Freaky Friday.

When the studio announced Freakier Friday, the entirety of social media collectively fist-bumped one another.

I expect both these films to perform very well. But a couple of others are up for debate.

Photo: Disney

Elio is probably Pixar’s most troubled release since The Good Dinosaur.

I’ve heard nothing to suggest it’s that kind of disaster, but Elio has definitely required some reworking since its inception.

Photo: Disney

I consider the premise “can’t miss” in that it’s a kid telling aliens that he’s the leader of Earth. That’s just plain funny.

If Pixar cannot entertain with an elevator pitch that strong, I have concerns.

Photo: joblo.com

Then, we have Tron: Ares in October, and this seems like a good time to mention that the next blockbuster Tron film will be the first.

Tron and Tron: Legacy were modestly profitable, stunningly beautiful films, and I’d expect the same here.

Predator: Badlands

Still, these four films are arguably better than any comparable quartet from a major studio this year.

Disney follows this group with an early November release of Predator: Badlands, which I’d expect to be modestly successful.

Predator: Badlands

And all that’s before we reach the grand finale.

Disney Will Close 2025 Strong

Photo: Disney

It’s not where you start but rather where you finish. The “had us in the first half” guy knows it, and Disney does, too.

The company will save the best for last in 2025 by releasing its top two films of 2025 during the final six weeks.

Image: Disney Fandom

First, Zootopia 2 will debut on November 26^th and should do Moana 2-type numbers, give or take 20 percent. I’d say take.

Zootopia, while delightful, isn’t quite as seminal as Moana, which came out the same year.

Photo: Disney

However, Zootopia, not Moana, is the movie that earned $1 billion at the box office. Its sequel should do VERY well.

Then, we have Disney’s alpha this year, Avatar: Fire & Ash.

This film has such high expectations that it’ll be a disappointment if it finishes with anything less than $1.5 billion in box office.

So, those two films, Zootopia 2 and Avatar 3, should combine for $2.5 billion in box office.

Photo: Disney

By that point, the only people still mentioning Brave New World and Snow White are the ones who hate all things Disney anyway.

Everyone else will have moved on, and Disney should have once again claimed the box office throne as the top studio.

Photo: Disney

At this point, I consider that outcome a foregone conclusion despite the early hiccups. Disney knew those were coming.

But the rest of Disney’s 2025 slate is so strong that nobody will care by the end.

Deadline

If they do, something has gone HORRIBLY wrong.

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Feature Photo: Disney