Disney’s newSnow Whitelive-action remake haschanged the meaning behind one of the title’s most iconic quotes, redefining the qualities of the “fairest in the land.“2025’sSnow Whitefilm, directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), received something of a reputation long before hitting theaters due to the notably announced changes from the story movie lovers have known and loved for over a century. The film makes a concerted effort to change the primary dynamics, continuing ongoing debates about faithful adaptations and modernization of beloved stories.
Regardless, this is the movie Marc Webb and Disney wanted to make, and though it has some differences from the 1937 classic, it still sends a powerful message.Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot play Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, and with the changing of the meaning behind “fairest in the land” comes changes to their dichotomy. All of this is worth analyzing to understand the feats and weaknesses of the new film and how it compares to the original.Snow White’sreviewsinclude a 44% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, though a more favorable 71% from audiences.
What “Fairest In The Land” Meant In The Original Snow White Movie
The 1937 Movie Focused On External Beauty
The term comes from the Evil Queen’s famous line,“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” and is an integral part of theSnow Whiteand fairy tale mythos. In the original 1937 movie, this was used to describe outward beauty. The Evil Queen wanted to be known as the most beautiful woman in the land and went after Snow White when the magic mirror declared that she was truly the fairest. The phrase is also used in fairy tales like “The Frog Prince,” also published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.
The noun fair is used as a synonym for beautiful, but it’s crucial to note that throughout human history,standards of what it means to be beautiful have constantly changed due to cultural context. In 1937, whenSnow White and the Seven Dwarfswas first developed, launching Disney into the powerhouse it is today, this may have been an acceptable depiction of how society viewed this word. However, the world has changed drastically in the past 88 years, leading to changes in the new film.
Snow White’s Live-Action Remake Updates The Meaning Of “Fairest In The Land”
Internal Qualities Define “Fairness”
2025’s version ofSnow Whitechanges the meaning of “fairest in the land” to represent something new. Rather than external beauty, being the fairest means having a strong ability to connect with people. Itconsiders internal qualities like kindness, compassion, leadership, and more. Snow White’s sense of compassion radiates throughout the film, helpingthe dwarfslearn to get along, convincing the Huntsman to spare her life, and even helping Jonathan find purpose, showing him that he can be a better man and even a hero.
One of thecontroversies surrounding the newSnow Whitemoviewas about the star, Rachel Zegler, who exclaimed that her version of the character wouldn’t be a damsel in distress. While this upset fans of the original movie, it’s true to the ideals Marc Webb’s version instills. In this movie,Snow White isn’t just a beautiful woman to be saved by the Prince; she’s a hero and a leader in her own right. That’s why she is the fairest in the land, unlike the Evil Queen, who’s nothing more than a vicious dictator. Read Rachel Zegler’s full quote below:
“I just mean that it’s no longer 1937. We absolutely wrote a Snow White that…she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”
Snow White’s New “Fairest In The Land” Meaning Connects To The Movie’s Themes
The New Movie Modernizes Snow White’s Themes
As mentioned, the new rendition ofSnow Whitehas provided an update on the movie’s morals, a common theme among recent Disney remakes and one that is sure to cause a divisive response among audiences. It’s clear that the divide between the Evil Queen and Snow White isn’t one of physical beauty; an entirely subjective quality. Instead, it’s about their nature. The Evil Queen is a terrible leader, as shown by her “All Is Fair” song, one of the original additions to theSnow White2025 soundtrack.
Box Office (Sunday Update): Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Blows Away Competition In Its Debut Weekend (But Where Does It Stand Against Other Disney Remakes?)
Disney’s live-action Snow White remake starring Rachel Zegler is set to debut at No. 1, soaring past the other new release competition.
Recent Disney movies have commonly considered similar ideals, and while many of these movies, includingSnow White, have points of criticism worth discussing, these themes do seem to be a positive change. The difference between the meaning of “fair” isn’t harmful to the film, and though the new version ofSnow Whitehas its problems, this detail isn’t something worth harking on. For a movie made to be family-friendly, maintaining strong and positive values is worthwhile.
