Snow White 2025: How China Audiences Are Reacting to Rachel Zegler’s Casting

Rachel Zegler Snow White

When Disney announced Rachel Zegler, a Colombian-American actress, as the lead in its live-action Snow White 2025 remake, global reactions were mixed — and China was no exception. While much of the Western discourse has focused on racial representation, “wokeness,” and the modernization of fairytales, Chinese audiences have responded with their own blend of curiosity, confusion, and cultural critique.

Initial Reactions: “She’s Not Snow White”

On major Chinese platforms like Weibo, Douban, and Zhihu, many netizens were quick to express their surprise — and mostly disapproval — of the casting choice.

A common comment repeated across threads:

“Why cast someone who doesn’t look like Snow White to play Snow White?”

For Chinese audiences who grew up with the classic 1937 Disney animation — or who only know the original fairy tale by its name — Snow White is a character defined by her name: “skin as white as snow.” The shift in appearance caught many off guard, not because of racial animosity, but due to a more literal, surface-level interpretation of the original story.

Notes:

• Weibo: Often referred to as “China’s Twitter.” It is the one of the largest microblogging platform in China where users can share short posts, images, videos, and links. Has more than 600 millions active users monthly.
• Douban is known for its user-generated reviews and discussions. Users often leave reviews and ratings for movies, books, music, and TV shows here. Has more than 300 millions active users monthly..
• Zhihu is often called “China’s Quora.” It is a question-and-answer platform where users can ask questions, share knowledge, and engage in discussions. Has more than 400 millions active users monthly.

Cultural Distance: Representation vs. Authenticity

Unlike in the West, where racial representation is a major cultural and political topic, many Chinese audiences don’t see race as a core issue in storytelling — at least not in the same way. Instead, authenticity to source material is often prioritized.

One user on Douban commented:

“It’s not about race. If Mulan were played by a white actress, people would also be upset.”

In this sense, many Chinese view Disney’s casting as a kind of cultural dilution or Western political gesture, which feels disconnected from traditional storytelling expectations. Some also see it as an attempt to appease a Western audience, even if it means alienating viewers elsewhere.

Impact on Disney’s Market in China

Disney has been struggling in the Chinese box office lately, and the Snow White controversy isn’t helping. Many Chinese filmgoers now view Disney as an overly Westernized brand that no longer connects with its broader international audience.

Some even think that the Queen Gal Gadot is more suitable to cast as Snow White than Rachel Zegler do.

Box Office and Market Performance: From High Expectations to Disappointment

Despite the buzz and controversy surrounding Disney’s Snow White 2025 live-action remake, the film severely underperformed at the box office upon release. According to official figures, its opening weekend grossed only $87.3 million globally, falling far short of its reported $250 million production budget.

In North America, Snow White 2025 brought in $44.3 million during its opening weekend—well below the average performance of previous Disney live-action adaptations. In mainland China, the situation was even more dire, with total first-week earnings reaching only ¥6.4 million RMB (less than $1 million USD), signaling a clear lack of local interest.

To make matters worse, Snow White 2025 set record lows for first-day earnings in several international markets, making it one of Disney’s weakest live-action openings to date.

Snow White 2025 IMDb Review: Critical and Audience Reception Collapse

The poor box office numbers were accompanied by disappointing reviews and low audience scores. On IMDb, Snow White 2025 rating plunged to 2.1/10, while on Rotten Tomatoes, it managed a mere 43% on the Tomatometer. Though CinemaScore gave it a relatively more forgiving B+, many viewers and critics expressed frustration.

Common criticisms included:

• A hollow and underwhelming plot
• Pacing issues that made the story drag
• Visually awkward and unconvincing CGI versions of the Seven Dwarfs
• A lack of emotional impact and tension in Snow White vs. Evil Queen confrontations

Overall, both box office data and critical reception suggest that Snow White failed to resonate with audiences on both emotional and entertainment levels—raising questions about Disney’s current strategy for live-action remakes.