Critics have expressed their opinions on the upcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White preceding its debut in theaters across the United Kingdom later this week. Reviews vary from labeling the new movie as “exhaustingly awful” to “enchantingly refreshed.”
The Disney film, a modern take on the classic animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), features Rachel Zegler in the lead role of the princess. Alongside Zegler, the movie boasts a cast including Gal Gadot and Andrew Burnap, stirring controversy since its announcement.
According to recent reports from PA, while some reviewers gave the remake a single star, both The BBC and The Telegraph awarded the film three stars. The Metro went a step further, granting the remake a four-star rating in its latest review.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian criticized the film as an “exhaustingly awful reboot,” specifically faulting the decision to replace “the prince” with a character named Jonathan, played by Andrew, and the CGI creation of seven supernatural beings. Describing the movie as one-star worthy, Bradshaw believes Disney struggled with maintaining the brand identity of the princess in her iconic yellow dress with puffy sleeves, and Gal as the Evil Queen donning a “pointy dark crown and skull-hugging black balaclava.”
He expressed disappointment in the duplication of the CGI dwarfs, highlighting how Jonathan, a character reminiscent of Robin Hood, leads his “own gang of seven live-action bandits, including individuals with dwarfism.” Bradshaw criticized this “fudged, pseudo-progressive approach” as exhausting.
Kevin Maher from The Times also rated the film one star, condemning Disney for tarnishing its reputation with this adaptation. Maher described it as “a new low for cultural desecration,” accusing the studio of patronizing global audiences with moralistic lessons.
However, Metro’s Tori Brazier praised the movie as “surprisingly one of [Disney’s] strongest and most worthwhile ‘reimaginings’ to date.” She commended Rachel Zegler for her captivating performance and vocal talent, avoiding the pitfalls of traditional Disney princess roles, and noted Gal’s portrayal of the iconic villain as enjoyable.
BBC critic Nicholas Barber acknowledged the film’s cluttered narrative, mixed tone, and pacing issues but argued that these flaws did not make it a complete failure. He suggested that the movie’s identity crisis added a unique element worth exploring, catering more to politics and cinema enthusiasts than to children seeking classic Disney magic.
Robbie Collin of The Telegraph dismissed claims of the film being overly woke and compared it favorably to the popular musical Wicked (2024), noting the absence of forced subversion or excessive ‘girl-bossing’ in Disney’s adaptation.
Amid various controversies surrounding the movie, including the portrayal of the dwarfs and Rachel Zegler’s casting, Disney responded to criticism by clarifying their approach to the characters and consulting with the dwarfism community to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.
Despite the challenges, Snow White will hit UK cinemas this Friday, marking the culmination of extensive anticipation and scrutiny surrounding its production and thematic choices.