The more things change, the more they stay the same.

That’s the best-case scenario for how Disney operates with its “wistful” yet misguided direction of stamping more and more live-action remakes into theaters. Yes, you can win with grand box office totals (think Will Smith tackling the Genie for Aladdin, Emma Watson’s added value for Beauty and the Beast , or The Lion King and The Jungle Book always bringing a generational youth). But not necessarily with a Dumbo or Mulan or, as with now, Snow White. For a $43 million domestic opening and only $87.3 million worldwide to kick off the sing-a-longs is not a fairy tale ending. With legs like Dumbo in 2019, this film will probably leg to $110 million domestically and $270 million worldwide (on a $250 million budget).

You know, it didn’t have to transpire like this, and a cornucopia of factors can serve to its downfall yet simultaneously not. No one cares that Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler didn’t become friends, that Peter Dinklage took umbrage about the use of CGI for the dwarves, or that Zegler commented that the 1938 toon was outdated about gender relations.

However, it wasn’t in Zegler’s best interest to create an unnecessary cacophony preaching politics/anti-MAGA sentiments when promoting the film (as the United States is trying to recover economically and socially). Nor was it a good idea for Disney to listen to online fandom and scale back the red-carpet premiere to add fuel to the fire about another controversial remake. And to add salt to the wound, Gadot and Zegler aren’t draws, nor did mixed reviews help with legs. The mere notion of “another” Snow White film didn’t excite anyone, as audiences have been subjected to semi-redos in the past few decades.

So, once again, shareholders begged for another Disney live-action remake more than the general audience, and fewer folks were inclined when A) you’re not making originals anymore and B) folks like to cry wolf in a jarring and preposterous political manner. So much for a need for fuel injection in the lifeless box office; it’s now a languor.

In other news, Black Bag took $4.4 million in its second weekend, nearing $25 million worldwide. Captain America: Brave New World has passed $400 million worldwide and is another weekend or two away from getting to $200 million domestically. Mickey 17 has passed $110 million worldwide, while Novocaine has notched $21 million globally.

Newcomer The Alto Knights flopped with $3.165 million, while Jonathan Majors’ Magazine Dreams earned $700k from 815 theaters.

Next weekend sees the release of A Working Man, The Woman in the Yard, Death of a Unicorn, and The Friend.