Disney’s live action remake of Snow White was mired in controversy long since its release – and the apparently ‘woke‘ iteration of a classic fairy tale is suffering in UK cinemas.
Many viewers have taken to social media to share videos of empty theatres as they attend screenings of the hotly anticipated film starring Rachel Zegler in the title role.
MailOnline looked at a selection of daytime and evening viewings of the film in five major UK cities and on average and found the movie will see 12 viewers per night.
In London‘s vibrant and tourist-filled Leicester Square, only 17 seats are booked for tomorrow’s 4.45pm viewing of Snow White – a time when parents of small children attend.
The 7.30pm viewing at the same location is looking slightly more cheerful, with 26 seats booked.
In Manchester’s Vue Printworks cinema, only four Disney fans have planned ahead and bought a ticket for a 4pm viewing, and a dismal zero viewers are expected to attend the 7.45pm viewing.
The modern version of the Grimms Brothers tale has come under fire due to comments from its star Rachel Zegler and the absence of the iconic song Someday My Prince Will Come.
The apparently ‘woke’ iteration of a classic fairy tale is suffering in UK cinemas
In London’s vibrant and tourist-filled Leicester Square, only 17 seats are booked for tomorrow’s 4.45pm viewing of Snow White – a time when parents of small children attend
The 7.30pm viewing at the same location is looking slightly more cheerful, with 26 seats booked
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Zegler faced backlash for calling the original 1937 animation ‘weird’ and ‘extremely dated’.
In a 2022 interview, she said: ‘There’s a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird. So we didn’t do that this time.’
Indeed, the new version takes a different approach. The love story is between the title character and the leader of a band of thieves – Jonathan – instead of a prince.
And the princess does not wait for her love interest to rescue her, although he rouses her from the dead with a kiss.
The film was expected to make around $100million across the first three days, but made $87 million globally in opening weekend, granting it ‘bomb’ status compared to other recent live-action remakes.
In Odeon’s Liverpool One cinema, just five people have purchased tickets for tomorrow’s 4.40pm screening and a more optimistic 14 people have booked for the 8pm slot.
Vue’s Bristol Cribbs cinema boasts a comparatively jubilant 38 seats for a 6pm run of the film tomorrow, but is back to six seats by 7.45pm.
And Birmingham New Street’s Odeon has seen just eight people book tickets for tomorrow’s 5.30pm viewing, with six people having bought seats for 7.10pm.
In Manchester’s Vue Printworks cinema, only four Disney fans have planned ahead and bought a ticket for a 4pm viewing
A dismal zero viewers are expected to attend the 7.45pm viewing
Birmingham New Street’s Odeon has seen just eight people book tickets for tomorrow’s 5.30pm viewing
And six people have bought seats for 7.10pm
The decision to replace real actors with CGI dwarves has angered many, and disability advocates say the entertainment conglomerate missed a golden opportunity to include little people and diversify their cast.
The film has also been accused of ‘wokeness’ after the Seven Dwarfs were re-imagined as a group of ‘magical creatures’.
The Mail’s Brian Viner slammed it as a ‘painfully muddle-headed affair’, adding: ‘This production has been cursed from the start. Disney’s contorted attempts not to offend anyone have somehow managed to offend everyone.’
Meanwhile, in mainland China, Snow White ranked outside the top five movies in cinemas – bringing in less than $1million (£800,000) in its first three days.
In Odeon’s Liverpool One cinema, just five people have purchased tickets for tomorrow’s 4.40pm screening
A more optimistic 14 people have booked for the 8pm slot
Vue’s Bristol Cribbs cinema boasts a comparatively jubilant 38 seats for a 6pm run of the film tomorrow
But the same location is back to six seats by 7.45pm
There has been racist backlash against casting Zegler – who is of Colombian and Polish descent – as the ‘white’ and ‘fair’ princess.
Similarly, the casting of former IDF soldier Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen has caused hordes of viewers to boycott the movie.
Her two-year stint in the Israeli military, already controversial enough, included participation in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and the actress’s reputation is mired in much of the Arab world and among Palestine supporters.
Even Disney itself has issues with its film, with an insider source reportedly calling Zegler ‘out of control’ due to her remarks on the original animation.
MailOnline has contacted Disney for comment.
