The hit movie, “Lilo & Stitch,” has proven to be another successful addition to Disney’s collection of live-action remakes, raking in $183 million domestically over Memorial Day weekend alone. This impressive earnings suggest there are valuable insights to glean from its profits. Despite the recent box office flop of “Snow White,” Disney still has several upcoming live-action remakes aiming to resonate with viewers. The success story of “Lilo & Stitch” could potentially provide guidance for these forthcoming films.
The extraordinary success at the movie theaters of films such as Lilo & Stitch is a remarkable insight into the Disney brand. All indications suggest that initially, Lilo & Stitch was intended for streaming on Disney+, but it shifted course during its production from a streaming release to a theatrical one. This recalls last year’s Moana 2, which started as a streaming series and later became a theatrical film. Given Moana 2’s numerous box office achievements and its global earnings surpassing $1 billion, it appears that these decisions to go with a theatrical release were astute ones.
Lilo & Stitch Made A Record-breaking $183 Million At The Domestic Box Office
The New Film Set A Memorial Day Weekend Opening Record
It’s been announced that the animated film “Lilo & Stitch” raked in a staggering $183 million during the three-day Memorial Day weekend at the domestic box office, breaking the record for highest-grossing Memorial Day release previously held by “Top Gun: Maverick.” This impressive number surpassed the previous record holder’s $160.5 million gross. This massive figure sets “Lilo & Stitch” on an extraordinary course towards box-office triumph. Interestingly, these earnings would not have been realized if Disney had stuck to their original plans for “Lilo & Stitch.
| Disney Remake | Domestic Opening Weekend | Worldwide Box Office Total |
|---|---|---|
| The Lion King (2019) | $191,770,759 | $1,662,020,819 |
| Beauty and the Beast (2017) | $174,750,616 | $1,263,521,126 |
| Aladdin (2019) | $91,500,929 | $1,050,693,953 |
| Alice in Wonderland (2010) | $116,101,023 | $1,025,467,110 |
| The Jungle Book (2016) | $103,261,464 | $966,550,600 |
| Maleficent (2014) | $69,431,298 | $759,853,685 |
| The Little Mermaid (2023) | $95,578,040 | $569,626,289 |
| Cinderella (2015) | $67,877,361 | $542,358,331 |
| Dumbo (2019) | $45,990,748 | $353,284,621 |
| 101 Dalmatians (1996) | $33,504,025 | $320,689,294 |
| Snow White (2025) | $42,206,415 | $204,007,972 |
| Pete’s Dragon (2016) | $21,514,095 | $143,695,338 |
It’s highly likely that the box office earnings of “Lilo & Stitch” will surpass $1 billion, given its current worldwide earnings of over $341.7 million, exceeding its production budget. With several weeks left in its theatrical run, it stands to make a substantial amount more. Interestingly, this makes it the second-highest opening for a live-action Disney remake, trailing only behind “The Lion King.” It’s worth mentioning that due to its holiday weekend release, “Lilo & Stitch” has an additional day of box office earnings compared to other titles in the same category.
The Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Remake Simply Had A $100M Budget
The Budget Was Much Smaller Than Most Live-Action Disney Remakes
One factor contributing to the remarkable achievement of the movie “Lilo & Stitch” is that it was produced on a budget of $100 million, which was originally intended for a streaming release and is considerably less than most other Disney remakes. For instance, this year’s box office flop, “Snow White,” struggled under a budget of around $240-270 million, making it harder for the film to turn a profit. The same issue arose with last year’s “The Little Mermaid,” which also had a production cost of approximately $240 million.
Stepping into the shoes of the original animated classic, “Lilo & Stitch”, which had a budget of $80 million back in 2002, the recent remake opted for a more economical approach. By keeping expenses minimal, the film didn’t need to earn as much to recoup its costs. Given the underwhelming performance of movies like “The Little Mermaid”, this budget-friendly strategy seems to be a shrewd move on Disney’s part. In fact, it looks like “Lilo & Stitch” is poised to join the ranks of the highest-grossing live-action remakes to date.
Disney Must Learn This Major Lesson When It Comes To Budgeting Their Movies
A $100 Million Movie Has A Much Easier Path To Success
As a cinephile, I’ve noticed a growing issue in Tinseltown – the escalating costs of movie production. More and more films seem to be swelling with excessive budgets, making it an uphill battle to recoup these astronomical figures. Even the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, The Final Reckoning, which has grossed a whopping $204 million worldwide in its opening weekend, is said to have set back as much as $400 million. With such colossal numbers, it’s challenging for any film to turn a profit, let alone the average one.
To reach profitability, most films typically have to earn roughly twice their production costs, accounting for marketing expenses and revenue sharing with exhibitors. By keeping budgets low, like the one for the film “Lilo & Stitch”, achieving success becomes more feasible. Instead of needing to generate a billion dollars in ticket sales to turn a profit, as might be required for a film such as “The Final Reckoning”, it’s likely that the new Disney hit has already started making money following its opening weekend.
The excessive spending in Hollywood films, as demonstrated by the success of “Lilo & Stitch,” which was made on a $100 million budget, suggests that they don’t necessarily have to be so costly to resonate with audiences. Indeed, the series’ global charm, stemming from its beloved character Stitch, and its popularity, is a testament to this fact. Not every film with a $100 million budget can aspire to such heights. However, “Lilo & Stitch” serves as a significant precedent for Disney when planning future productions. To maintain long-term success, it would be wise to keep production costs more manageable.
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2025-05-29 16:41