Gal Gadot’s viral comment has fans debating politics, but the real lesson here lies in how Disney failed to market Snow White to its audience.
When Gal Gadot stirred up the internet by suggesting that Snow White’s box-office flop was tainted by anti-Israel sentiment and Hollywood pressure, the conversation quickly veered into heated political territory. But here’s the real plot twist: the film didn’t suffer because of geopolitics, it stumbled because its marketing misfired. Despite Gadot later clarifying that multiple factors contributed to the film’s underperformance, the bigger lesson is clear. This wasn’t a political failure it was a marketing one. And that’s where our focus turns: analysing how Snow White got the promotion wrong long before politics took over.
Hype and hollowness
Anticipation drives the box office. Look at Barbie: its launch wasn’t just another movie release, it became a cultural takeover. Think memes, collaborations with over a hundred brands (from Uber to Burger King Brazil), iconic pink pop-up events, and social media flooding with nostalgia and pink fever.
Snow White, by contrast, barely made a ripple. Disney dialled back its promotional firepower: it spent less than $7 million on TV ads, with only 724 million impressions, less than a third of what The Little Mermaid or Mufasa: The Lion King secured. Red carpet shows disappeared, press tours were muted, and controversy rather than buzz became the story. Without that cultural steam or marketing muscle, anticipation never caught flame, and a fairy tale lost its magic.
Confused Brand Positioning.
Even Disney couldn’t hide behind the mirror when Snow White’s messaging cracked under pressure. The marketing flipped between two worlds: on one hand, a modern, feminist reimagination led by Rachel Zegler’s assertion that “the prince is a guy who stalks her,” and on the other, a nostalgic appeal leaning heavily on the 1937 animated original with clips inserted in TV spots to reconnect with fans.
That marketing tug-of-war left audiences unsure of the film’s identity. Was it a bold retelling for modern adults, or a fairy tale for families? Without a clear target or consistent emotional core, the campaign failed to rally viewers emotionally or experimentally.
The Missed Emotional Core.
Snow White’s heart is built on innocence, wonder, and the kind of magic that inspired generations. But Disney’s 2025 remake lost sight of that emotional nucleus in its marketing. Instead of capturing the essence of fairy-tale charm, the campaign leaned into controversy, star power, and political debate. Cast interviews focused on modern reinterpretations, Zegler calling the original “dated” and Gadot embroiled in political backlash, while press events shrank and traditional red carpets vanished.
Rather than selling audiences on the story’s warmth and wonder, Disney sold confusion and conflict, leaving the true magic on the cutting-room floor.