British film critics have largely criticized Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, while American reviewers have been more favorable in their assessments.

The Chief Film Critic for The Times, Kevin Maher, remarked, “Believe the anti-hype, it’s that bad.” Conversely, David Rooney from Hollywood Reporter called it “mostly captivating.”

The production faced various challenges, including disagreements among cast members and controversies over the representation of the seven dwarfs, as well as the casting of Zegler in the titular role. According to reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an initial critics’ score of just 47% before its global release on Friday.

The Positives

Rooney praised director Marc Webb’s work as a “vibrant retelling” with a “smart script” by Erin Cressida Wilson, although he criticized how the film portrayed the seven dwarfs. Discussions about the dwarfs began in 2022 when Peter Dinklage expressed concerns about the story’s portrayal of “seven dwarfs living in a cave,” referring to it as “backward.” Disney opted for CGI characters in the remake to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, but this has led to concerns among actors with dwarfism regarding job opportunities.

Despite criticisms, some critics view the film positively. Pete Hammond from Deadline described it as “just fine” and noted its “dazzling dance numbers,” while Owen Gleiberman from Variety labeled it as one of the better live-action adaptations, indicating that the CGI dwarfs contribute positively to the film.

The Negatives

In contrast, most British reviewers have not been as kind. Brian Viner from the Daily Mail awarded it two stars and described it as “painfully muddle-headed,” despite acknowledging Zegler’s talent. Disney’s casting of Zegler, a Latina actress, for a character expected to have skin “as white as snow,” has also stirred some controversy amid Disney’s push for more diverse casting in classic tales. Zegler has made headlines for her critical views on the original animated feature.

The negative critiques continued, with Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian giving it one star and labeling it “exhaustingly awful.” He criticized the costume design as subpar and stated that both Zegler and Gal Gadot delivered uninspired performances. The Times’s Maher also commented on the film’s lackluster premiere events, indicating a potential crisis moment for Disney, particularly after spending over $270m (£217m) on the production.