Disney’s Snow White film tops box office despite bad reviews

Published

3 months ago

March 24, 2025

editor

Disney’s live-action version of the classic fairy-tale Snow White has topped the North American box office chart despite a slew of underwhelming reviews.

The movie has taken an estimated $87.3m (£67.5m) globally during its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. Almost half of that figure came from North America.

But that is below expectations for a film which reportedly cost more than $270m.

The reworking of the 1937 feature length animation had seemed like a surefire hit before running into a series of controversies ahead of its release.

The revamp of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became a flashpoint for social and political divisions, even before it reached cinemas around the world.

That included some criticism of the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as the heroine.

There was also a backlash about Zegler’s pro-Palestinian comments and about pro-Israel comments by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays Snow White’s stepmother, the Evil Queen.

And there is an ongoing debate about whether there should have been dwarfs in the film at all, live or CGI.

On the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Snow White has a critics’ score of just 44%, although the audience reaction ‘Popcornometer’ stands at 73%.

Chief film critic for The Times, Kevin Maher, said: “Believe the anti-hype, it’s that bad”, but the Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney called the film “mostly captivating”.

With its creepy CGI dwarfs and muddled tone, Disney’s latest live-action remake is “not calamitous” but is “a mind-boggling mash-up”, the BBC’s Nicholas Barber said.

(BBC News)

Indian actor Mohanlal arrives in SL

Published

7 hours ago

June 16, 2025

editor

Renowned Indian actor Mohanlal arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday (June 14) for the second phase of shooting director Mahesh Narayanan’s big-budget film.

He landed at Bandaranaike International Airport at 11.20 a.m. via SriLankan Airlines flight UL-166 from Kochi and is expected to stay for 10 days.

Speaking to the media, Mohanlal praised Sri Lanka as a “beautiful destination with fresh cinematic backdrops” and expressed interest in filming more projects on the island in the future.

The film, produced by Antony Perumbavoor’s Aashirvaad Cinemas in collaboration with Anto Joseph Films, also features legendary actor Mammootty.

Key action scenes are set to be filmed during this schedule.

@Mohanlal is about to went to Sri Lanka to join the sets of #MMMN for a few days of shoot✌#Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/iUwjxOzD0p
— AKMFCWA Official (@AkmfcwaState) June 15, 2025

ലാലേട്ടൻ ❤️
Latest at Sri Lanka#MMMN Schedule @Mohanlal #Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/zj4L2Hm0sT
— AKMFCWA Official (@AkmfcwaState) June 15, 2025

Special award for renowned actress Iranganie Serasinghe

Published

1 day ago

June 15, 2025

editor

he 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony held with the participation of the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The 2025 Silver Screen Awards Ceremony was held on June 13 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The aim of this year’s awards ceremony included appreciating artists who enriched the Sri Lankan cinema industry during the years 1970–1975. At the ceremony, renowned actress Iranganie Serasinghe was presented with the Sumith Bibile Memorial Gold Award by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also conferred awards to distinguished artists Padma Sri Kodikara, Dinesh Priyasad, and Indrani Perera.

Entertainment

Dua Lipa confirms engagement to Callum Turner

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2025

editor

Dua Lipa has confirmed that she’s engaged to actor Callum Turner, saying it’s “a really special feeling”.

The singer, 29, has been with 35-year-old Londoner Turner for almost a year and a half.

He’s best known for roles in Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air, and was Bafta nominated in 2020 for BBC One’s The Capture.

“Yeah, we’re engaged,” she told British Vogue. “It’s very exciting. This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever – it’s a really special feeling.”

The couple sparked engagement rumours last Christmas when she posted pictures of herself wearing a ring.

She told Vogue that Turner had the ring made for her after consulting with her best friends and sister.

“It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.”

They have not yet set a wedding date, with Lipa saying she must first finish her current world tour – which ends in Mexico in December – and Turner is busy filming.

He is due to play the lead in the Apple TV sci-fi series Neuromancer, adapted from William Gibson’s 1984 novel.

“We’re just enjoying this period,” she said. “I’ve never been someone who’s really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. All of a sudden I’m like, ‘Oh, what would I wear?'”

(BBC News)