Ten Live-Action Snow White Interpretations Ranked

Today is the day that Disney's live-action Snow White comes out on Disney+, providing an opportunity for the many people who did not see it in theaters to watch it. In honor of this occasion, I have explored many of the previous live-action interpretations of this character that have come before. Although I still have strong feelings about remaking the first feature-length animated movie of all time in a live-action format, I did not think that Disney's newest adaptation was the worst one. Yet, it had so much competition from its predecessors that it did seem a bit unnecessary. Let's explore all the live-action Snow Whites that came before and see where this one falls. Please note that this is purely for fun and not an official ranking by any means. All opinions are my own. Feel free to share yours in the comments, whether you agree or disagree with my list..

10. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

I tried to watch this movie again recently because I didn't remember it very well from 2012. What I discovered was that Snow White and the Huntsman is virtually unwatchable. I could not stop checking the time, looking at my phone, and wondering why it wasn't over yet. I believe I saw a video review once that pointed out a scene where the queen opened her mouth and sucked all the youth and beauty out of a girl she kept prisoner. The person who made the video asked why she never did that to Snow White, since that would have instantly solved her problem of Snow White being prettier. I think the best answer is that the movie would have been over a lot sooner, and we wouldn't have needed to tolerate Kristen Stewart's wooden performance for nearly as long.

9. Faerie Tale Theatre (1984)

Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre is a cult classic from the '80s that features celebrity guest stars in almost every episode and covers many obscure fairy tales that did not have film adaptations at the time. That said, the TV budget and casual atmosphere on set often got in the way of telling these stories in a way that could be taken seriously by fairy tale enthusiasts. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is no exception. Elizabeth McGovern seemed bored with her role as the fair princess. Just about every single one of her lines fell flat. The most interesting character was a dwarf named Bubba, though his performance may seem dated by today's standards. The prince was an extremely flat character who sat near the dwarfs' cottage, singing songs about how he dreamed of true love until the appropriate time for him to wake Snow White.

8. The Charmings (1987)

This '80s sitcom was pure camp and still like a fever dream to watch today. It has its appeal if you're in the mood for something light and cheesy, but it is more of a caricature of Snow White than a true reimagining of her. The swap between Caitlin O'Heaney and Carol Huston transitioned the character from a bumbling fish out of water to a modern career woman. This was a believable enough arc, but the show never took itself seriously enough to give her any real depth as a living, breathing person.

7. Snow White (2025)

Disney's newest reimagining of "Snow White" is not the worst, but it cannot compare to its animated predecessor or many of the other live-action interpretations that came before it. Upon a second viewing, I thought the movie started out pretty strong. It's only after the CGI dwarfs are introduced that the story takes a downward spiral and never quite recovers. The new songs are catchy, and some of the visuals are interesting. However, the movie is desperately in need of a new costume designer and real-life actors for the dwarfs.

6. Snow White (1987)

I've updated my list of screen-accurate retellings to include this movie as the most accurate interpretation of the original fairy tale. Of all the adaptations I've watched, this one pulls the most content directly from the Brothers Grimm. It uses all three of the original weapons that the queen uses to try to kill Snow White, ages the princess down to seven when she moves in with the dwarfs, and has her awaken from the apple being dislodged from her throat instead of with a kiss. Despite its accuracy, the movie is not the most entertaining adaptation in the world. There are too many musical numbers at the beginning and not enough at the end. It also sheds light on why some of elements of the original fairy tale were changed in other adaptations of the story.

5. Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (2001)

This is the movie I originally thought was the most accurate to the fairy tale before seeing the 1987 adaptation. Upon a second viewing, I noticed it makes a lot of creative changes that are pretty entertaining. It changes Snow White's backstory to show that her father became king with the help of a djinn and gives the dwarfs magic rainbow powers. I've always thought that Kristin Kreuk made a perfect Snow White with her elegance and sweetness. The movie has some interesting visuals and expands on the backstory of the evil queen to explain why she was so obsessed with beauty.

4. Mirror Mirror (2012)

Although this movie came out the same year as Snow White and the Huntsman, it could not be more different. Taking on a light, comedic vibe that directly contrasts Huntsman's dark, violent themes, Mirror Mirror is full of joy and light. Lily Collins shines as Snow White, bringing the sweetness and innocence the character is famous for. The prince has a more humorous role than other interpretations by regularly getting caught in traps and being rescued by Snow White. Their dynamic works well and makes their relationship unique. The twist at the end of the film is also distinctive and highlights Snow White's loving and nonviolent nature.

3. The 10th Kingdom (2000)

Camryn Manheim absolutely slayed in this role as an older plus-sized Snow White. Her gentle performance shows us that beauty can come in all shapes and sizes. She provides a more serious take on an adult Snow White than The Charmings. Her role as a mentor to Virginia makes perfect sense for a legendary princess who lived a full life and knows the ups and downs of being a heroic girl who was hunted by someone she once cared about. Although her role was short, it was memorable and impactful. Plus, she had some cool ghost powers later in the miniseries.

2. Once Upon a Time (2011)

Ginnifer Goodwin nailed the role of Snow White so hard that there is no point in anyone ever trying to compete with her. Her gentle nature shines through in everything she does, no matter how dire the situation gets or how rebellious she becomes. Though her portrayal is a modern interpretation of the character who isn't afraid to fight back, there is a softness to her dialogue and actions that hearkens back to the original fairy tale. The plot of her having a daughter that she needed to give up is also interesting and adds layers of depth and trauma to her character, making her feel more like a real person.

1. Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961)

If you've been following my blog for a while, my number one choice should come as no surprise to you. Snow White and the Three Stooges is a celebration of Hollywood glamor with gorgeous sets, costumes, ice choreography, and vintage fantasy sequences. The choice to cast Olympic figure skater Carol Heiss as Snow White was an inspired choice that paid off with some spectacular sequences. It is also the only adaptation where the prince is raised by characters who take on the role of the dwarfs, adding additional depth to his character. Overall, this movie reminds me of a time when Hollywood was creative, elegant, and inspirational.

Do you agree with these choices, or do you have a different favorite? Let me know in the comments below!