“Snow White” Early Reactions: One of the Best Live-Action Remakes to Date

By The Credits  |  March 17, 2025

The first reactions to Disney’s Snow White are here, and the scuttlebutt is that director Marc Webb and his stars Rachel Zegler (Snow White) and Gal Gadot (the Evil Queen) have delivered one of the best live-action remakes to date. This is quite the turnaround after a few shaky weeks leading to the film’s premiere, with the online chatter surrounding Snow White having to do with everything but the film itself. 

The early takes on the film especially call out Zegler’s performance, writing that her phenomenal singing chops are on full display here. She is no doubt one of the magical powers that Webb and the Snow White team were counting on to make this latest adaptation sing. The original Snow White, released in 1937, is arguably one of the most important films in Disney’s long, rich animation history, helping launch the brand into the global phenomenon it is today.

The film’s music comes from Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It boasts a screenplay from Barbie writer/director Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson—all top-tier talent.

The film’s rollout had been subdued due to some fervor online stirred up in a few comments made years apart. It began two years ago when Ziegler upset some very online Disney fans by suggesting the new live-action remake was going to require more of Snow White than the original 1937 version did, where the prince saves her. When some fans took offense to that, Zegler had this to say:

“I interpret people’s sentiments towards this film as passion for it and what an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We’re not always going to agree with everyone who surrounds us, and all we can do is our best.”

More recently, a post she made after Donald Trump won re-election caused a minor stir among conservatives and MAGA supporters (she later apologized), as did her stance on wanting freedom for Palestine. Gadot has been on the other side of that particular divide. As an Israeli citizen, she’s been vocal about her support of her home country. The two stars did present at the Oscars, but for the most part, they’ve been promoting the film separately until they came together for the premiere in Los Angeles.

It appears the results of their collaboration have borne some sweet, unpoisoned fruit.

Snow White will be released in theaters on March 21. Let’s examine some of the early reactions.

For more on upcoming Disney & Marvel titles, check out these stories:

“Thunderbolts”: Marvel’s Wild Card Mixes Antiheroes and Indie Talent From A24 & More

From Wings to Stars: Costume Designer Gersha Phillips on Redesigning Captain America

“Captain America: Brave New World” Composer Laura Karpman Crews a New Beat for a New Cap

Featured image: Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney’s live-action SNOW WHITE. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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The Credits

The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.