Pastor Greg Laurie, founder of the renowned Harvest Christian Fellowship, recently criticized Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, saying it strays far from the gospel-inspired message of love and redemption found in the original. In a YouTube video, Laurie argued that the new version replaces those themes with messages of self-empowerment and female autonomy—an approach he believes contributed to the film’s disappointing box office performance.

Snow White, originally written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 and famously adapted by Disney in 1937, was once a cornerstone of animated storytelling. However, the latest live-action remake, which cost a staggering $209 million to produce, grossed just $43 million in its opening weekend—a poor showing compared to Disney’s other remakes like The Lion King ($191 million), Beauty and the Beast ($174 million), and The Little Mermaid ($95 million).

Laurie, who also co-produced the 2023 faith-based film Jesus Revolution—a retelling of his own conversion experience during the 1970s—pointed to Disney’s decision to abandon the original story’s central conflict between good and evil, as well as its core themes of love and salvation. Instead, he said, the remake focuses heavily on modern ideals such as female leadership and independence.

A Gospel-Aligned Message in the Original

Laurie noted that the classic Snow White aligns deeply with biblical themes. “In the original story, Snow White awakens from a deep sleep—a metaphor for resurrection and spiritual renewal in Christianity,” he explained. He also likened the “good king,” Snow White’s father, to a Christ figure representing divine love and authority. The princess’s awakening, he added, can be seen as a spiritual revival brought about by the love left behind by her father.

Laurie also drew parallels between the prince’s “true love’s kiss” and Christ’s triumph over darkness through redeeming love. In his view, the prince’s kiss breaks the curse much like the redemptive love of Jesus breaks the power of evil.

Moreover, the evil queen, obsessed with her beauty and consumed by pride, resembles Lucifer—a once-glorious angel who fell due to his desire to exalt himself above God. “It’s just like what we read in the Bible,” Laurie said. “Lucifer wanted to take God’s place, and the evil queen’s narcissism mirrors that same fall.”

A New Message: No Longer Needing Rescue

In contrast, Rachel Zegler, who plays the titular role in the remake, has expressed discontent with the original film. In interviews, Zegler called the 1937 classic “outdated” and emphasized that the new Snow White no longer seeks love, but rather aims to fulfill her late father’s vision by becoming a leader. This new version of the princess neither waits for a prince nor believes she needs saving.

Laurie was particularly critical of Disney’s decision to remove the iconic song Some Day My Prince Will Come, replacing it with Waiting on a Wish, performed by Zegler. He argued that this shift reflects a complete departure from the gospel essence of the original film. “Instead of a longing for love and redemption,” Laurie said, “we’re left with a message of self-sufficiency and female empowerment, which distances the story from its gospel-inspired roots. That’s a real loss.”