 Snow White premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre on December 21 , 1937 , followed by a nationwide release on February 4 , 1938 . It was a critical and commercial success , and with international earnings of $ 8 million during its initial release briefly assumed the record of highest grossing sound film at the time . The popularity of the film has led to it being re @-@ released theatrically many times , until its home video release in the 1990s . Adjusted for inflation , it is one of the top ten performers at the North American box office . 
