LOS ANGELES -- Disney's remake of "Snow White," 90 years after the original blockbuster, topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $43 million, but faces stiff winds -- and some horrendous reviews -- to make up its huge production costs.

The new live-action version has faced a series of woes -- from the Covid pandemic to criticism of its use of CGI, not real actors, to portray the seven dwarves -- driving up its production cost to an estimated $250 million and making it "one of the most troubled projects in Disney's 102-year history," according to the New York Times.

Some reviews have been scathing -- the Guardian called it "toe-curlingly terrible" and "exhaustingly awful" -- while others were a bit kinder, with The Washington Post rating it "surprisingly entertaining." Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot star.

'Snow White' review: This progressive princess doesn't need a prince

The movie poster for Disney's "Snow White." Handout 

Focus Features' spy thriller "Black Bag" from Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh ticked up a notch from last weekend to second place, earning $4.4 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett star.

Third place, also up one spot from last weekend, went to Marvel and Disney's "Captain America: Brave New World," at $4.1 million. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford star in the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Last weekend's second-place film, black comedy "Mickey 17" from Oscar-winner Bong Joon-ho, slipped to fourth place, at $3.9 million. Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo star in the Warner Bros.' sci-fi tale about the many lives -- and deaths -- of a man who volunteers for hazardous space missions.

And last weekend's leader, Paramount's action-comedy "Novocaine" suffered a painful drop in ticket sales, taking in just $3.8 million. Jack Quaid plays a banker who, unlike Hollywood studios, cannot feel pain.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"The Alto Knights" ($3.2 million)

"The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" ($1.8 million)

"The Monkey" ($1.5 million)

"Dog Man" ($1.5 million)

"The Last Supper" ($1.3 million)

© Agence France-Presse