Snow White Box Office: $168.7 Million Loss Explained

Few films arrive with as much baggage as Disney’s 2025 Snow White. Between the pre-release controversies and the staggering $336.5 million price tag, the movie had a lot to prove. Yet by the end of its run, the film earned $205.7 million worldwide, according to a report from New York Post (news outlet) — a number that raises an uncomfortable question: did it actually flop? This article breaks down the verified box office data, the studio’s net loss, and where Snow White lands in Disney’s history of big-budget disappointments.

Worldwide box office gross: $205.7 million ·
Production budget (gross): $336.5 million ·
Net loss reported by Disney: $168.7 million ·
Domestic opening weekend: $42.2 million ·
International gross: $118.5 million

Six key financial figures tell the story of Snow White‘s theatrical run at a glance.

The pattern: even after a $42.2 million domestic opening, the film never recovered. The net loss of $168.7 million represents a clear failure to recoup the investment.

Did Snow White do well at the box office?

Snow White (2025) worldwide box office total

With a final worldwide gross of $205.7 million, Snow White fell far short of the $225 million target Disney had reportedly hoped for, according to MARCA (sports and entertainment news). The domestic opening weekend of $42.2 million was below the $50 million pre-release expectations reported by Business Insider (business news outlet).

The film’s international gross of $118.5 million helped, but not enough to change the trajectory. One report from The Telegraph (UK news outlet) forecast domestic gross below $100 million, a bar the film ultimately cleared by only a slim margin.

Comparison to production budget

The gross production budget of $336.5 million means the film needed to generate roughly $670 million in theatrical revenue to break even under standard Hollywood accounting, assuming a 50% split with exhibitors. With a worldwide gross of $205.7 million, the box office alone covered less than a third of that threshold.

A report from Fox Business (financial news outlet) citing Forbes estimated Disney’s net spending (after incentives) at $271.6 million, and its theatrical share at $102.9 million, yielding the $168.7 million loss.

Did Disney lose $170 million on Snow White?

Forbes report details

In February 2026, Forbes published a detailed analysis of Disney’s spending on Snow White. The report, covered by Fox Business, calculated the net loss at $168.7 million. That figure is based on a net production budget of $271.6 million after tax incentives and a theatrical revenue share of $102.9 million.

Earlier estimates had ranged from $115 million, reported by The Telegraph in April 2025, to the final $168.7 million figure. The revision reflects more accurate tracking of the film’s full theatrical run and Disney’s internal cost disclosures.

Disney’s net spending figure

Disney’s net spending on production was $271.6 million, according to the Forbes analysis cited by Fox Business. That figure excludes marketing costs, which multiple reports estimate at $70–80 million, bringing the total cost to around $410 million, as noted by New York Post.

The implication: the $168.7 million loss is a conservative estimate of the film’s direct financial impact on Disney’s theatrical division.

What was Disney’s biggest box office flop?

Snow White (2025) in context

According to New York Post, Snow White became Disney’s worst-performing live-action movie in a decade. But the title of “biggest flop” depends on the metric used. By absolute dollar loss, John Carter (2012) and The Lone Ranger (2013) are often cited as the worst, each losing an estimated $160–$190 million.

When measured as a percentage of budget, Snow White ranks near the top. Its net loss of $168.7 million against a net budget of $271.6 million represents a 62% loss rate.

List of major Disney flops (budget vs gross)

One comparison, two key data points: Snow White vs. the studio’s expectations.

The pattern: every expectation was missed. The gap between hope and reality is a consistent theme in Disney’s recent live-action remakes, but Snow White is the first to miss by such a wide margin.

How much money did Snow White really lose?

Forbes $168.7 million loss calculation

The calculation is straightforward: net spending of $271.6 million minus Disney’s theatrical share of $102.9 million equals a loss of $168.7 million. This methodology was detailed by Fox Business citing Forbes.

An earlier estimate from The Telegraph put the loss at $115 million, based on a projected worldwide gross of $225 million. That projection proved optimistic, and the final loss was higher.

Box office vs net budget

The net budget of $271.6 million is the key number. After subtracting the $205.7 million worldwide gross, the shortfall is $65.9 million. But because Disney only retains roughly half of ticket sales (the rest goes to theaters), the actual loss is larger. The $168.7 million figure accounts for that split.

As The Washington Times (opinion and news) noted shortly after opening weekend, the film was unlikely to recoup production and marketing costs even with a strong domestic run.

What is Disney’s lowest grossing film?

Lowest grossing Disney films by worldwide box office

When looking at all Disney live-action releases, the lowest-grossing major titles include The Black Cauldron (1985, $21.3 million) and The Rescuers Down Under (1990, $27.9 million). Among live-action remakes, Snow White ranks fifth-lowest, according to a YouTube analysis (fan channel) — though that source notes the data is based on unadjusted figures.

In absolute terms, Snow White is not Disney’s lowest-grossing film. But when adjusted for inflation, its $205.7 million gross is weaker than many earlier releases.

Where Snow White (2025) ranks

Among live-action remakes, Snow White is the worst-performing in a decade, as reported by New York Post. Its $42.2 million opening weekend was the lowest for any Disney live-action remake since Dumbo (2019).

The trade-off: Snow White may not be the lowest-grossing Disney film ever, but in terms of lost investment relative to budget, it ranks among the most damaging.

Timeline

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Worldwide box office: $205,679,463 (New York Post)
• Gross production budget: $336.5 million (Forbes)
• Net production budget: $271.6 million (Fox Business)
• Net loss: $168.7 million (Fox Business)
• Domestic opening weekend: $42.2 million (Forbes)
• Worst-performing live-action remake in a decade (New York Post)

What’s unclear

• Exact total marketing spend beyond the net production budget
• Disney’s own internal profitability threshold for the film (the studio has not officially disclosed the target)
• Whether the loss will be offset by future streaming revenue or ancillary sales

Quotes

Disney’s net spending on Snow White reached $271.6 million, and with a 50-50 theatrical revenue split, the loss comes to $168.7 million.

— Caroline Reid, Forbes (via Fox Business)

Snow White’s final worldwide gross of $205.7 million places it among the weaker live-action remakes in Disney’s modern era.

— Box Office Mojo editorial, via New York Post

For Disney, the Snow White loss is a concrete consequence of soaring production costs and shifting audience expectations. For the studio’s next live-action remake, the choice is clear: rein in budgets, or risk repeating the same $168.7 million mistake.

Frequently asked questions