Disney’s highly anticipated musical remake, “Snow White,” launched with a strong $16 million in Friday and preview screenings across 4,200 cinemas, securing its place as the top box office draw for the weekend.
The live-action fairy tale, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, is tracking toward a projected $45 million opening weekend — the second-best debut of 2025 behind Disney’s own “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Despite its promising start, “Snow White” faces significant financial pressure. With a reported production budget exceeding $250 million, the film must maintain strong momentum to reach profitability. While critic reviews have skewed negative, early audience reactions appear more favourable, with Cinema Score reporting a “B+” grade. Disney limited press access for the premiere due to polarised online discourse, but ticket buyers have shown interest.
In contrast, Warner Bros. faced disappointment with the release of “The Alto Knights.” The crime drama starring Robert De Niro in dual roles grossed just $1.17 million from 2,651 locations on its opening day. Directed by Barry Levinson, the $45 million production failed to attract substantial attention, with Cinema Score awarding it a “B” grade and critics offering lukewarm responses. Warner Bros. is banking on its upcoming release, “A Minecraft Movie,” to reverse its recent box office misfortunes.
Other titles saw mixed performances. Focus Features’ espionage drama “Black Bag” climbed to second place but is projected to fall 43% in its second week. Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World” added $1.1 million on Friday, surpassing a $190 million domestic total. Paramount’s “Novocaine” dropped 57%, while Warner’s “Mickey 17” struggled to maintain momentum.
Indie releases also hit cinemas this weekend. Horror sci-fi film “Ash,” and the controversial bodybuilding drama “Magazine Dreams,” featuring Jonathan Majors, earned modest totals around $330,000 each.
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