Back to Events

This page is an attempt to list the film’s worldwide release dates and locations, with sources of information for each date whenever possible.

USA
Canada
Great Britain
India
France
Belgium
Switzerland
Honk Kong
China
Mexico
The Netherlands

USA

Following its world premiere at the Carthay Circle and initial runs in cities like New York and Miami, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was officially released in February 1938 by RKO. However, the film wasn’t included in RKO’s standard release schedule; instead, special arrangements were made for each booking. The distributor demanded at least 50 percent of box office profits, a policy that frustrated smaller theater owners who struggled to match the success of major venues—some of which drew audiences willing to travel long distances. On the Film Daily of March 2, 1938, it is announced that RKO made a deal with Warner and Fox for the film to be distributed in their theater chain as well with a single feature policy and admission price rise. The film was withdrawn from circulation on April 29, 1939.

The film was part of the Walt Disney Festival of Hits from July 1940 until March 1941.

The February 24, 1944 reissue was a test for the studio. The film opened in 60 cities across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, as if it was a new production. The premiere took place in Cincinnati, an the film toured the entire country until October 1944.

The base of the 1952 re-release was New England.

The promotional tour of the 1958 reissue also started in New England.

California

  • December 21, 1937 – Late April, 1938 at the Carthay Circle Theater, Los Angeles (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 “20th and last week”)
  • February 27, 1938 at the Carthay Circle Theater, Los Angeles in the Spanish language (J.B. Kaufman)
  • March 2, 1938 at the Golden Gate Theater, in San Francisco (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • April, 1938 at the Hill street Theater, in Los Angeles (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • April, 1938 at the Pantages Theater, in Los Angeles (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Colorado

  • February 18, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater, Denver (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • May 13-16, 1938 at the Ute Theater, Rifle (Letter from the manager, Mary E. Lind, published in Motion Picture Herald of May 28, 1938)

Connecticut

  • Late February 1938 at the Strand, Hartford (Film Daily of March 22, 1938 “Third week”)

Florida

  • January 13, 1938 at the Sheridan Theater, Miami (Film Daily of January 14, 1938)

Georgia

  • March 11-25, 1938 at the Fox Theater, Atlanta (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)
  • March 26, 1938 at the Paramount Theater, Atlanta (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)

Illinois

  • March 4, 1938 at the Palace Theater, in Chicago (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • May 1-4, 1938 at the Lyric Theater, Moweaqua (Letter from the manager, Verne Coffman, published in Motion Picture Herald of May 28, 1938)
  • May 7-9, 1938 at the Stark Theater, Toulon (Letter from the manager, Lester Booth, published in Motion Picture Herald of May 28, 1938)

Indiana

  • February, 1938 at the Indiana Theater, Indianapolis (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Iowa

  • March 3, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater, in Sioux City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 4, 1938 at the Iowa Theater, in Cedar Rapids (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 11, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater, in Davenport (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Kansas

  • February 25, 1938 at the Mainstreet Theater in Kansas City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • May 14-17, 1938 at the Ritz Theater, Stafford (Letter from the manager, Warren L. Weber, published in Motion Picture Herald of June 4, 1938)

Kentucky

  • February, 1938 at the Rialto Theater, Louisville (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Louisiana

  • February 24, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Maryland

  • February, 1938 at the Hippodrome Theater, Baltimore (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Massachusetts

  • February 10, 1938 in Boston (Film Daily of February 4, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Keith Theater, Lowell (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 3, 1938 at the Keith Memorial Theater, Boston (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 1938 in New Bedford (Film Daily of March 7, 1938)

Michigan

  • March 10, 1938 at the United Artists Theater, Detroit (Film Daily of March 5, 1938)
  • March 11, 1938 at the Madison Theater, Detroit (Film Daily of March 5, 1938)

Minnesota

  • March 4, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis (Film Daily of February 23, 1938)
  • March 4, 1938 at the Orpheum Theater, St. Paul (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Nebraska

  • March 3, 1938 at the Brandeis Theater in Omaha (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

New Jersey

  • February 18, 1938 at the Proctor’s Theater, Newark (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Lincoln Theater, Trenton (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the State Theater, New Brunswick (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • July 7-9, 1938 at the Liberty Theater, Bernardsville (Vintage ad)

New York

  • January 13-February 16, 1938 at the Radio City Music Hall, New York City (Film Daily of January 7, 1938 & February 8, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Palace Theater, New York City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Keith Theater, Syracuse (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 19, 1938 at the Broadway Theater, New York City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 19, 1938 at the Albee Theater, New York City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 4, 1938 at the Great Lakes Theater, Buffalo (Theater program)
  • March 1938 in Lake Placid (Film Daily of March 7, 1938)
  • March 1938 in Oneida (Film Daily of March 7, 1938)
  • March 12, 1938 at the Bellview Theater, Niagara Falls (Film Daily of March 9, 1938)
  • March 12, 1938 at the Strand Theater, Niagara Falls (Film Daily of March 9, 1938)
  • April 8, 1939 at the Waldorf Theater, New York City in the French language (J.B. Kaufman)
  • Late July 1940 for three weeks at the Loew’s Criterion Theater, New York City as part of the Walt Disney Festival of Hits (J.B. Kaufman)
  • Mid-august 1940 for two weeks at the Little Carnagie Playhouse Theater, New York City as part of the Walt Disney Festival of Hits (J.B. Kaufman)
  • April 1944 for three months at the Brandt’s Manhattan Theater, New York City (J.B. Kaufman)

Ohio

  • February 11, 1938 at the RKO Albee downtown Theater, Cincinnati (Film Daily of February 4, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 in Dayton (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 25, 1938 at the Palace Theater in Columbus (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 3-24, 1938 at the Hippodrome, Cleveland (Film Daily of February 15, 1938 and March 23, 1938)
  • March 1938 at the Allen, Cleveland (Film Daily of March 23, 1938 “one and a half weeks”)
  • March 3, 1938 at the Albee Theater, Cincinnati (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • Late March 1938 at the Keith’s East 105th St., Cleveland (Film Daily of March 23, 1938 “booked for two weeks”)
  • March 1938 in Toledo (Film Daily of March 7, 1938)
  • Late April – early May, 1938 at the Town Hall Theater, Lebanon (Letter from the managers, Law & Blair, published in Motion Picture Herald of May 28, 1938)
  • May 1938 at the Virginia Theater, Wellston (Letter from the manager, published in Motion Picture Herald of June 4, 1938)
  • February 24, 1944 in Cincinnati (J.B. Kaufman)

Oklahoma

  • February, 1938 at the Criterion Theater, Oklahoma City (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February, 1938 at the Tower Theater, Oklahoma City (Film Daily of March 5, 1938)

Oregon

  • April 29-May 3, 1938 at the Lark Theater, McMinnville (Letter from the manager, M. W. Mattercheck, published in Motion Picture Herald of May 28, 1938)

Pennsylvania

  • February, 1938 at the Park Theater, Reading (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • March 1938 at the Loew’s Penn Theater, Pittsburgh (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)

Rhode Island

  • February 10, 1938 in Providence (Film Daily of February 4, 1938)
  • March 3, 1938 at the Albee Theater, Providence (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

South Carolina

  • May 1938 at the Breeze Theater, Beaufort (Letter from the manager, Ira Smith, published in Motion Picture Herald of June 11, 1938)

Tennessee

  • February, 1938 at the Knickerbocker Theater, Nashville (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)

Texas

  • March 18-April 4, 1938 at the Majestic Theater, Houston (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)
  • March 26-April 9, 1938 at the Majestic Theater, Dallas (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)
  • April 10-24, 1938 at the Tower Theater, Dallas (Film Daily of March 15, 1938)
  • May 14-16, 1938 at the Grove Theater, Groveton (Letter from the manager, Ouida Stephano, published in Motion Picture Herald of June 4, 1938)

Virginia

  • February 11, 1938 at the Byrd Theater, Richmond (Film Daily of February 15, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Newport Theater, Norfolk (Film Daily of February 16, 1938)
  • February 18, 1938 at the Colley Theater, Norfolk (Film Daily of February 16, 1938)
  • March 1938 in Roanoke (Film Daily of March 7, 1938)

Washington

  • March 10-April 1, 1938 at the Capitol Theater, Vancouver (Film Daily of March 24, 1938 “third week”)

Washington, D.C.

  • February 11-April 1, 1938 at the Keith Theater, Washington, D.C. (Film Daily of February 4, 1938 and March 24, 1938 “seventh week starting”)

Canada

Alberta

  • June, 1938 at the Crescent Theater, Red Deer (Film Daily of June 30, 1938 “four days”)

Manitoba

  • March 10-April 1, 1938 at the Palace Theater, Winnipeg (Film Daily of March 24, 1938 “third week”)

Ontario

  • March 9-23, 1938 at the Capitol Theater, Hamilton (Film Daily of March 24, 1938 “two weeks”)
  • March 24, 1938 at the Savoy Theater, Hamilton (Film Daily of March 24, 1938)

Quebec

  • February 25-April 1, 1938 at the Palace Theater, Montreal (Film Daily of February 19, 1938 “four weeks” and March 24, 1938 “fifth week”)

Saskatchewan

  • June, 1938 at Regina (Film Daily of June 30, 1938 “four days”)

Great Britain

  • February 24-June 23, 1938 at the New Gallery Theater, London (Film Daily of June 27, 1938 “17th week in London”)
  • March 14, 1938 at Buckingham Palace, London, for a special screening (Film Daily of March 16, 1938)
  • December 1943 at the New Gallery Theater, London (J.B. Kaufman)
  • 1954 (Daniël Biltereyst’s evocation of the 1953 submittal of the film by RKO the BBFC for a 1954 re-release)

India

  • Late March, 1938 at the New Empire Theater, Bombay (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 “fourth week”)
  • Late March, 1938 at the First Empire Theater, Calcutta (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 “fourth week”)
  • Late March, 1938 at the New Empire Theater, Calcutta (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 “fourth week”)
  • Late March, 1938 at the Regal Theater, Delhi (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 “fourth week”)

France

  • May 6-September 13, 1938 at the Marignan Theater, Paris in the French language (Film Daily of April 23, 1938 and countless other articles)
  • September 8-December 6, 1938 at the Impérial-Pathé Theater, Paris in the French language (L’action française of September 8 , 1938 & Le populaire of December 6, 1938)
  • September 30-October 6, 1938 at the Colisée Theater, Biarritz in the French language (La Gazette de Biarritz of October 1, 1938)
  • February 16-March 8, 1939 at the Normandie Theater, Paris in the English language (Le matin of February 16, 1939 & La journée industrielle of March 8, 1939)
  • April 1, 1939-April 30, 1939 at the Impérial-Pathé Theater, Paris in the French language and in English (L’action française of April 1 & 30, 1939)
  • December 30, 1944-February 5, 1945 at the Normandie Theater, Paris in the French language (Le Figaro of December 30, 1944 & Combat of February 5, 1945)

Belgium

Snow White was released in Belgium in a censored French version, with all potentially traumatic elements removed.

  • May 19-July 28, 1938 at the Eldorado Theater, Brussels in a censored print of the French language version (Film Daily of May 24, 1938, Le soir of July 28, 1938)
  • September 9-18, 1938 at the Roxy Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of September 9 & 17, 1938 & De Standaard of September 18, 1938)
  • 1938 at the Capitole Theater, Ghent in the French language (Photo of the theater from the Sofexim-Cinex Archive, State Archives of Belgium)
  • September 30, 1938 at the Select Theater, Ghent in the French language (vintage ad)
  • October 7-13, 1938 at the Palace Theater, Liège in a censored print of the French language version (Film Daily of May 24, 1938)
  • October 21-27, 1938 at the ABC Theater, Brussels in the English language with French subtitles (Le soir of October 21 & 27, 1938)
  • October 27-November 10, 1938 at the ABC Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of October 27, 1938 & De Standaard of November 10, 1938)
  • November 4-17, 1938 at the Eldorado Theater, Charleroi in the French language (Le journal de Charleroi of November 4 and 17, 1938)
  • November 13, 1938 at the Salle de Paris Theater, Antwerp in the Dutch language (De Standaard of November 13, 1938)
  • November 18-24, 1938 at the Leopold Palace Theater, Brussels in the Dutch language (De Standaard of November 18 & 24, 1938)
  • November-December 1, 1938 at the Pathé-Nouveautés Theater, Verviers in the French language (vintage ad)
  • December 4-11, 1938 at the Nova Theater, Lokeren in the Dutch language (De Standaard of December 4 & 11, 1938)
  • December 9, 1938 at the Ciné Real Palace Theater, Brussels in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • December 9-15, 1938 at the Roxy Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of December 9 & 15, 1938)
  • December 10, 1938 at the Real Theater, Hoboken in the Dutch language (Het Volk of December 10, 1938)
  • December 13, 1938 at the Bristol Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of December 13, 1938)
  • December 18, 1938 at the Gouden Leeuw Theater, Eeklo in the Dutch language (De Standaard of December 18, 1938)
  • December 18, 1938 at the Patria Theater, Roeselare in the Dutch language (De Standaard of December 18, 1938)
  • January 6-7, 1939 at the Cinéma Géant, Hoboken in the Dutch language (vintage ad & De Standaard of January 7, 1939)
  • January 7-12, 1939 at the Kursaal Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le Peuple of January 7 & 12, 1939)
  • January 13-19, 1939 at L’écran Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le Peuple of January 13 & 19, 1939)
  • January 15, 1939 at the Familia, Ronse in the Dutch language (De Standaard of January 15, 1939)
  • January 21, 1939 at the Parc Theater, Ghent in the Dutch language (De Standaard of January 21, 1939)
  • February 4-9, 1939 at the Ons Huis Theater, Gistel in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • February 5-March 2, 1939 at the Nova Theater, Ghent in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • March 6, 1939 at the Savoy Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of March 6, 1945)
  • March 10-16, 1939 at the Flora Theater, Heist-op-den-Berg in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • April 1-6, 1939 at the Cinéma des Familles, Angleur in the French language (vintage ad)
  • May 21, 1939 at the Corso Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le Peuple of May 21, 1939)
  • June 24, 1939 at the Familles Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le Peuple of June 24, 1939)
  • June 25, 1939 at the Woluwe-St-Pieter Theater, Brussels in the Dutch language (De Standaard of June 25, 1939)
  • June 25, 1939 at the Palace Theater, Sint-Niklaas in the Dutch language (De Standaard of June 25, 1939)
  • July 22-27, 1939 at the American Theater, Brussels in the English language (Le Peuple of July 22 & 27, 1939)
  • August 5-13, 1939 at the American Theater, Brussels in the English language (Le Peuple of August 5 & 7, 1939 & De Standaard of August 13, 1939)
  • August 13, 1939 at the Oud-Brugge Theater, Bruges in the Dutch language (De Standaard of August 13, 1939)
  • August 18-24, 1939 at the Cinéma Casino, La Panne in the French language (vintage ad)
  • September 16-17, 1939 at the Ons Huis Theater, Avelgem in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • September 29-October 1, 1939 at L’écran Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of September 29 & October 1, 1939)
  • November 25-30, 1939 at the Cinéma Crystal, Boussu in the French language (vintage ad)
  • December 29, 1939-January 4, 1940 at the Movy Theater, Molenbeek in the French language (Le Peuple of December 29, 1939-January 4, 1940)
  • February 3, 1940 at the Anvers Palace Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le Peuple of February 3, 1940)
  • March 23-28, 1940 at the Cinéma Reine Astrid, Gembloux in the French language (vintage ad)
  • December 21, 1944-January 3, 1945 at the Marivaux Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le peuple of December 21, 1944 & January 3, 1945)
  • January 7-15, 1945 at the Pathé Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le peuple of January 7, 1945 & Le soir of January 13, 1945)
  • April 1-5, 1945 at the Century Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of April 1 & 5, 1945)
  • August 10, 1951 at the Eden-Ciné, Namur in the French language (vintage ad)
  • August 10-17, 1951 at the Eldorado, Brussels in the English language (vintage ad & Le soir of August 11, 1951)
  • August 18-24, 1951 at the Eldorado, Brussels in the French language (vintage ad & Le soir of August 11, 1951)
  • September 28-October 4, 1951 at the Royal Theater, Kortrjik in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • October 5-11, 1951 at the Ciné Oud Ieper, Ieper in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • October 13, 1951 at the Ciné Plaza, Wevelgem in the Dutch language (vintage ad)
  • August 24, 1952 at the Beaux-Arts Theater, Bruxelles in the French language (Le Soir of August 24, 1952)
  • December 21, 1962-January 24, 1963 at the Roy Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of December 21, 1962 & January 24, 1963)
  • December 21, 1962-January 24, 1963 at the Capitole Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of December 21, 1962 & January 24, 1963)
  • December 21, 1962-January 24, 1963 at the Galeries Theater, Brussels in the French language (Le soir of December 21, 1962 & January 24, 1963)
  • 1973 by Elan Films who was granted a re-release with no cuts in the French language.

Switzerland

  • May 20-June 24, 1938 at the xx Theater, Geneva in the French language (Film Daily of May 24, 1938 – Film Daily of June 27, 1938 “6 weeks”)

Hong Kong

  • May-June 1938 in Hong Kong (Film Daily of June 27, 1938 “6 weeks”)

China

  • June 2, 1938 at the Metropol Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • June 2, 1938 at the Nanking Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Rialto Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Uptown Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Lafayette Cinema, Shanghai in the French language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Capitol Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Zhejiang Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Empire Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)
  • 1938 at the Willie’s Theater, Shanghai in the English language (Yuanyuan Chen)

Mexico

The Netherlands

The original decision of the censors in that country was to restrict it for people over 14. On February 1, 1939, a decision was granted an “all audience” approval provided 100 meters of the film were cut.

  • November 11, 1938-March 1939 at the Nöggerath Theater, Amsterdam in the Dutch version (Daniël Biltereyst)
  • November 11-?, 1938 at the Metropole Theater, The Hague in the Dutch version (Haagsche Courant of November 10, 1938)
  • November 11-?, 1938 at the ? Theater, Utrecht in the Dutch version (Daniël Biltereyst)