Movie review
March 19, 2025 · 109 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
This is a live-action movie based on the classic Disney animated film. Princess Snow White flees into the woods to escape the Evil Queen and meets seven magical dwarfs. The story replaces the traditional prince with a bandit named Jonathan who helps her lead a political rebellion. Girl power and leadership themes are very visible, as Snow White focuses on saving her kingdom instead of seeking true love.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Snow White.
Woke representation / casting
The film casts a Latina actress as the lead character, whose original defining trait was white skin. The backstory of her name is changed to fit this casting choice. Additionally, the movie uses computer-generated characters for the dwarfs instead of hiring actors with dwarfism. This choice was made to avoid traditional dwarf stereotypes. The changes show a clear emphasis on modern diversity goals.
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue does not use modern activist words. However, it often points out that Snow White does not need to be saved. The songs are rewritten to emphasize her personal strength and her goal to be a leader. Her conversations with Jonathan focus on her political duty and helping the resistance. This makes the language feel much more modern and political than the original fairy tale.
Identity-driven story themes
The main theme of the story is female empowerment and leadership. Snow White focuses on her own strength and her duty to her parents. She does not dream of true love. The classic romance is replaced with a partnership where she is an active rebel leader. This shifts the focus from a traditional love story to a narrative about girl power and independence.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film frames traditional gender roles and romance as flawed concepts. It rejects the classic idea of a prince rescuing a princess. Instead, the prince is changed to a common thief who is her equal. This critiques traditional relationships and conservative family values. It teaches that self-reliance is better than traditional marriage, which undermines classic Western story themes.
Woke character or canon changes
The movie makes massive changes to the classic story. The Prince is replaced by a common thief. The seven dwarfs are turned into CGI creatures to avoid stereotypes. Snow White's name origin is changed so it does not refer to her white skin. The classic songs are removed or rewritten to focus on female power rather than love. These changes directly target and alter the beloved original canon.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There was massive backlash against this film. Online audiences complained about the casting of Rachel Zegler. Many fans were angry about the changes to the dwarfs and the prince. The actress's past comments calling the original prince a stalker caused huge outrage. People accused the movie of pushing a feminist agenda and ruining a classic story. This controversy dominated the film's entire release.
Creator track record context
The key creative team has a low to moderate track record for promoting woke causes. Director Marc Webb and producer Marc Platt have very low scores and focus on commercial projects. However, the casting directors have a stronger commitment to modern diversity initiatives. This created a mix of creative priorities on set, leading to a moderate overall creator score.
Production
