Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’: A Nostalgic Letdown in Song and Spirit
As a millennial who grew up on the golden age of Disney’s animated classics, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs held a particular magic for me. It wasn’t just the fact that it was Disney’s first full-length animated feature or its timeless animation—Snow White was a window into a fairytale world with memorable characters, a hauntingly iconic villain, and music that still lingers in my head decades later. So when Disney announced a live-action remake, I was cautiously optimistic. Would they breathe new life into the tale? Would they respect the emotional core of the original? Unfortunately, the answer is complicated—and for me, largely disappointing.
[Warning: spoilers from Disney’s live-action Snow White are below!]
Snow White is visually stunning despite its flaws
Let’s start with what works: the film is visually stunning. The sets are lush, the costumes are gorgeously detailed, and there are moments when the cinematography captures the fairytale aesthetic beautifully. Rachel Zegler, cast as the titular Snow White, clearly has talent and a certain quiet charm. Gal Gadot, as the Evil Queen, leans into her role with a theatrical edge that works in places. The bones of a great film are there.
However, where this remake stumbles hard is in its music and emotional resonance, two pillars that made the 1937 original endure. The classic songs, like “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Heigh-Ho,” are either drastically reimagined, sidelined, or, in an undeniably baffling move, entirely cut. These weren’t just background tunes; they were central to the original film’s character and warmth. Removing or altering them feels like Disney is trying to distance itself from the very magic that made Snow White and the Seven Dwarves beloved for generations.
The new songs, composed to update the story for modern audiences, feel like they’re from an entirely different movie. While I appreciate the attempt to give Snow White more agency (a common critique of the original), the songs themselves lack the melodic memorability and emotional weight of their predecessors. Instead of toe-tapping joy or sweeping ballads, we get mostly forgettable numbers that sound like they were written for a Disney+ series rather than a cinematic tentpole.
Disney loses the draw of the classic animated film in this reimaging of Snow White
As a millennial, I’m all for reinterpreting stories to reflect more contemporary values—stronger female characters, more nuanced villains, more diverse casting. That’s not the issue here. The issue is that the heart of Snow White —its innocence, whimsical charm, and music —has been smothered by overproduction and a tone that feels unsure of itself. The film wants to be progressive, nostalgic, dramatic, and playful all at once. As a result, it doesn’t commit fully to any of these directions.
One of the most egregious choices, musically, is how little the dwarves’ signature song, “Heigh-Ho,” is allowed to shine. In the original, it was a joyous, instantly recognizable tune that helped define the characters and establish the film’s rhythm. Here, it’s reduced to a mere callback—if that. The dwarves themselves (now redesigned with a reworked lineup to avoid stereotypes) have lost the distinct personalities that made them so endearing. This could’ve been an opportunity to reimagine those roles thoughtfully, but instead, they’re largely background noise.
Then there’s the question of tone. The original Snow White had a fairytale purity, a sense of wide-eyed wonder that didn’t require irony or commentary to be effective. The remake seems afraid to embrace that tone, opting instead for a kind of self-awareness that undercuts its sincerity. At times, it feels like the filmmakers are embarrassed by the source material, and this is evident, especially in the musical choices. There’s an almost apologetic air to how the classic elements are handled, as though the studio doesn’t trust the audience to appreciate them anymore.
That’s a shame, because if there’s one thing I know from my generation, it’s that we do still connect with those elements. The resurgence of vinyl, retro fashion, and yes, Disney nostalgia, is proof that authenticity and earnest storytelling still have a place. The problem with this Snow White isn’t that it tried to change too much; it’s that it tried to modernize without honoring what made the original so resonant.
It’s not that I wanted a carbon copy of the 1937 film. I wanted a reinvention that respected the soul of the story, especially its music. But what we got feels more like a branding exercise than a fairytale revival. For all its visual polish, this live-action Snow White lacks the emotional melody that made the original sing.
In the end, watching it felt like trying to relive a childhood memory, only to realize that someone’s swapped out the soundtrack. The castle is still there, but the echo of those familiar songs is gone—and with it, a bit of the magic.
Disney’s live-action Snow White is currently streaming on Disney+! Have you seen this remake yet? Did you think it accurately captured the original animated film? Let us know your thoughts @BoxSeatBabes on all social media platforms!
