^{Credit: Snow White (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)}

At the 97th Academy Awards, Snow White stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot presented the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The pairing was about as ironic as having James Corden and Rebel Wilson present this category in full Cats attire a few years earlier. Just as that film’s catastrophic CGI tanked its box-office potential in one trailer, the Snow White remake came under fire for its photo-realistic dwarves (among various other reasons). Some held onto hope that the live-action Snow White might be a pleasant surprise, putting the haters in their place. Those optimists are still waiting on a wish.

Snow White bombed with critics and audiences alike, leading some to believe that Disney might finally be done with live-action remakes. Then, the Lilo & Stitch remake grossed a billion dollars a few months later. With the live-action Moana inclined to pull in similar numbers next year, Disney won’t be halting their assembly line of remakes anytime soon. Moving forward, though, they’ll likely stick to remaking films from the '90s renaissance onward, rather than films that could use a new perspective, like The Black Cauldron. As for Snow White, Disney seems to be pretending the remake doesn’t exist. Sure, Snow White is available on Disney+ now, but it’s a no-show on Disney’s FYC site. 

^{Credit: The Walt Disney Studios' FYC Site as of November 23, 2025.} 

That doesn’t mean Snow White is ineligible for Oscar consideration or that it won’t be submitted in some categories. In terms of campaigning, though, it doesn’t appear to be a priority for Disney’s awards department. You might be thinking, “Of course it’s not. Snow White isn’t getting any Oscar nominations. Why bother even campaigning?” To be fair (pun unintended), songwriters Pasek and Paul are Academy favorites, previously winning for “City of Stars” from La La Land. While one of their original songs from Snow White probably won’t be nominated, making the shortlist isn’t out of the question. The film’s costume designer is Sandy Powell, who has three Oscars. Even the visual effects team, despite all the flak, could make that category’s longlist. Cats did in 2019, although that’s as far as it got.

Although the reception to Disney’s remakes has been mixed at best, they’ve performed well in below-the-line categories. Alice in Wonderland won two Oscars for Best Production and Costume Design. The Jungle Book won for Best Visual Effects, while Alice in Wonderland, Christopher Robin, The Lion King, and Mulan all got nominated in that category. Cruella won for Best Costume Design, while 102 Dalmatians, Cinderella, Maleficent, Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan got nominated here. Even Maleficent: Mistress of Evil got a Best Makeup and Hairstyling nomination. So, a tech nomination for Snow White isn’t unthinkable… albeit highly unlikely.

It’s safe to assume that nobody at Disney thinks Snow White is going to be an Oscar player. Still, when a major studio spends over $100 million (in Snow White’s case $240 million+) on a movie, they’ll usually at least give it a shout-out on their FYC site. Case in point, Captain America: Brave New World is on Disney’s FYC site, despite not being a critical or box office juggernaut. Nobody’s expecting Tim Blake Nelson to get a Best Supporting Actor nomination or any of the five writers to get nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Maybe the visual effects team will get longlisted, but if any MCU movie makes the final nominations lineup this year, it’ll likely be The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Meanwhile, on Warner Bros.’s awards page, you’ll see FYC Best Actor - Jack Black, A Minecraft Movie. This isn’t going to happen, but it’s a sign of goodwill towards the filmmakers. Even if they aren’t anticipating any nominations to materialize, an FYC page is the studio's way of saying that they made something they’re proud of, they stand by it, and want to spotlight the artists who worked on it. The fact that Snow White doesn’t have an FYC page could be interpreted as a sign that nobody wants it on their résumé. Disney is seemingly sweeping the film under the rug, although audiences will surely be reminded of its existence once the Razzie nominations are announced.

The Razzies have targeted several live-action Disney remakes over the years. Alice Through the Looking Glass scored three Razzie nominations, including Worst Supporting Actor for Johnny Depp. Pinocchio got nominated for six Razzies, including Worst Picture, winning Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel. Mufasa: The Lion King was also nominated for Worst Remake, Rip-off, or Sequel. Snow White is expected to pick up several Razzie nominations, with Gal Gadot’s turn as the Evil Queen seeming tailor-made for Worst Supporting Actress. Snow White probably won’t sweep, with Amazon’s Ice Cube-led War of the Worlds adaptation uniting the internet in hate-watching. If you’re seeking the fairest in the land, though, look no further than the special Oscar that Walt Disney received for the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1 and 2. Available Now!