How Does Disney’s 2025 Snow White Reimagining Differ from the Original 1937 Classic?
Disney’s 2025 reimagining of “Snow White” marks a significant evolution from the studio’s first-ever animated feature film released in 1937. While maintaining the core fairy tale elements, the live-action adaptation introduces numerous changes that reflect modern sensibilities and storytelling approaches.
The 2025 version preserves the fundamental premise—a beautiful princess threatened by a jealous stepmother—but adds substantial depth to characters and themes. In the original, Snow White was portrayed primarily as a gentle, innocent maiden whose primary attributes were her beauty and kindness. The 2025 reimagining transforms her into a more complex character with agency and leadership qualities. Rather than merely fleeing and waiting to be rescued, this Snow White actively participates in her own salvation and ultimately leads a rebellion against the Evil Queen’s rule.
One of the most significant additions is the character of Jonathan, who doesn’t exist in the 1937 version. In the original, Snow White’s love interest is simply “the Prince” who appears briefly at the beginning and end of the film. Jonathan, in contrast, is a fully developed character—a cynical thief who undergoes significant character development. His relationship with Snow White evolves organically throughout the narrative, creating a more balanced romantic dynamic than the instantaneous love of the original. Their relationship in the 2025 version is built on mutual respect and shared experiences rather than love at first sight.
The Seven Dwarfs also receive substantial updates. While maintaining their distinct personalities (Grumpy, Dopey, etc.), the 2025 version gives them more nuanced backgrounds and deeper interpersonal relationships. Notably, Dopey—who never spoke in the original—finds his voice by the film’s conclusion, symbolizing the theme of empowerment that runs throughout the remake. The dwarfs are portrayed as ancient forest dwellers with magical connections to the mines where they work, adding mystical elements absent from the 1937 version.
The Evil Queen’s character arc and motivation receive significant expansion in the 2025 film. While the original portrayed her as purely malevolent and obsessed with beauty, the remake explores the nature of her power and her relationship with the Magic Mirror more deeply. The revelation that the Mirror is the source of her magical abilities adds a new dimension to her character. Her transformation into glass at the film’s conclusion—rather than falling from a cliff as in the original—carries symbolic weight about the fragility of beauty-based power.
The poisoned apple scene remains similar in both versions, but the 2025 film adds the Queen’s confession about murdering Snow White’s father during this encounter. This creates a more personal conflict beyond mere jealousy of Snow White’s beauty. Additionally, in the original, Snow White is awakened by “true love’s kiss” from the Prince, while the 2025 version has Jonathan kiss her out of grief without expecting her to awaken—suggesting that sincere emotion rather than romantic idealization breaks the spell.
Thematically, the 2025 film puts greater emphasis on leadership, community responsibility, and the contrast between superficial beauty and inner goodness. While the original certainly contained moral messages about goodness triumphing over evil, the remake explicitly frames these themes in terms of governance and societal values. Snow White’s ascension to the throne and her ability to inspire her subjects through genuine connection represent a more politically aware narrative than the 1937 version.
Musically, the 2025 film incorporates some songs from the original such as “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh-Ho,” but also introduces new musical numbers that advance character development and thematic elements. Songs like “Where the Good Things Grow” and “Princess Problems” explore the film’s central themes about leadership and caring for others versus self-interest.
The visual palette of the 2025 film contrasts with the storybook aesthetic of the original. While the 1937 film used bright primary colors and a clearly fantastical visual style, the reimagining combines realistic human performances with fantastical elements, creating a more grounded world where magic feels exceptional rather than commonplace.
The ending differs substantially between versions. The original concludes with Snow White riding off with the Prince to his castle, suggesting a traditional “happily ever after” fairy tale ending. The 2025 version shows Snow White becoming queen in her own right and ruling justly over her reclaimed kingdom, emphasizing her individual accomplishment and leadership rather than her romantic fulfillment.
These differences reflect changing cultural values over the nearly nine decades between the two films. Where the original emphasized traditional gender roles, passive feminine virtues, and rescue-based narratives, the 2025 version celebrates agency, community building, and earned leadership. Nevertheless, both films maintain the core message that genuine goodness and compassion are more valuable and lasting than superficial beauty or power.
By reimagining this classic tale for contemporary audiences, Disney has attempted to preserve the beloved elements of the original while addressing its outdated aspects. The result is a film that honors its predecessor while offering new perspectives on beauty, power, and heroism for today’s viewers.
