The animated film Lilo & Stitch has been a blockbuster success, bucking the trend of Disney’s recent live-action remakes. With an extensive library of beloved animated movies dating back for decades, Disney has been leveraging nostalgia to create live-action adaptations that bring audiences back to their cherished childhood memories. Many of these reimagined films have been box office sensations for the studio, with titles like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King earning over $1 billion globally.
Nonetheless, a number of Disney’s recent reboots have fallen short of their original achievements. Although 2023’s The Little Mermaid garnered $569 million globally, this figure is less impressive when considering its production cost of $355.1 million, resulting in a loss. Similarly, Snow White was a significant letdown for Disney, generating merely $205.4 million worldwide. However, the studio’s latest remake seems to be bucking this trend. Despite some reservations about certain alterations in the movie, Lilo & Stitch is breaking box office records and there are several factors contributing to its success.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch Became A Global Box Office Hit
Lilo & Stitch Beats A Tom Cruise Movie In Its Opening Weekend
2025 Memorial Day weekend saw intense competition at the box office with two blockbusters leading the charge: “Lilo & Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” In terms of domestic earnings, this particular holiday weekend set a new record, accumulating a staggering $322 million. Among these giants, however, it was “Lilo & Stitch” that emerged as the box office champion with a four-day domestic opening of an impressive $182.7 million, outperforming “The Final Reckoning.” To date, the film has grossed over $392 million globally, surpassing the lifetime earnings of both “Snow White” and the original film’s box office total.
Over the course of its first four days, Lilo & Stitch broke the record for highest Memorial Day weekend debut, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick’s opening earnings of $160.5 million. In total, Maverick amassed a staggering $1.49 billion at the box office. If Lilo & Stitch maintains its current momentum, it could soon join the billion-dollar club. However, its success will depend on how well it performs in the coming weeks and whether it experiences a significant drop in ticket sales. Despite this uncertainty, Disney is already celebrating a major victory with Lilo & Stitch, given that it was made for just $100 million.
Millennials & Gen Z Nostalgia Was The Biggest Factor To This Lilo & Stitch’s Success
Disney Knows How Popular Stitch Is With Adults That Grew Up With Him
During the 2000s decade, Disney’s animation era wasn’t its peak, but it did birth the beloved character Stitch. This little alien has since become one of Disney’s most successful and financially lucrative figures, with a multitude of merchandise being snapped up at Disney Parks. Not only was the animated movie watched by many, but it also spawned several sequels and a spinoff TV series. Anticipation among adults for this film was palpable before its release. Numerous TikTok users shared videos of themselves dancing to tunes from the original soundtrack, such as “He Mele No Lilo” and “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride“.
As I’ve learned from The Hollywood Reporter, it turns out that a whopping 56% of moviegoers were the general audience, while young adults aged 18-24 accounted for 32%, and those between 25-34 made up 33%. Even kids are loving Stitch, but it’s evident that this character transcends generations. The allure of nostalgia is undeniable, and it seems that millennials and Gen Z will be flocking to theaters to relive their childhood memories with the new film.
The Original Lilo & Stitch Movie Also Came At The Perfect Time To Target Two Major Generations
Two Generations Grew Up With Stitch
In the year 2002, the animated movie featuring Lilo & Stitch made its first appearance. Despite being a moderate success at the cinema, it resonated deeply with numerous young audiences. Although Stitch is highly appealing to children due to his adorable appearance, soft fur, and distinctive voice, the film possesses several other endearing qualities. It delivers a heartwarming message about family (Ohana), offers an exclusive alien world, and enlightens many viewers about Hawaiian culture while appreciating it. Given these factors, it’s no wonder that it became so iconic, and its storytelling has touched the hearts of multiple generations.
2002 marked an ideal moment for debut, given that both the tail-end millennials and the pioneering Gen Z cohort were raised with it. Older millennials could resonate with the movie’s heartwarming family theme, while younger millennials and Generation Z found humor in Stitch’s disruptive behavior. Lilo, another character, was relatable to many children because she exhibited behaviors and faced challenges similar to a typical kid. The film also offered appealing music, boasting a soundtrack that encompassed traditional Hawaiian tunes and a medley of Elvis Presley’s most popular songs.
Despite The Mixed Response To The Changes, Lilo & Stitch Is Clearly A Major Hit
Audiences Are Divided About How The Film Changes The Story
Lilo & Stitch generally garnered favorable responses from both audiences and critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a 69% critic rating and an impressive 93% audience score. Additionally, the movie earned an A grade from CinemaScore. However, there has been some debate over various alterations made in the film. For instance, Captain Gantu, the primary villain from the initial movie, was eliminated and his role was given to Jumba, Stitch’s creator, who undergoes redemption in the original storyline. Furthermore, the movie features a significantly different conclusion, as Lilo is handed over to her neighbors so she can pursue marine biology studies in California.
People have varying opinions about the new ending and the villain modifications in this movie, some finding it disrespectful to the original message of Ohana, while others view it as a more authentic conclusion for live-action adaptations. Regardless of these differing views, Disney is set to earn a substantial sum, with the film expected to be a huge success during its cinema release. However, the mixed response could potentially impact the film’s box office performance because some viewers might not return or suggest it to others. Nevertheless, given Lilo & Stitch’s relatively low production cost, Disney stands to make a significant profit from this movie and may even consider sequels in the future.
Read More
- CRK Boss Rush guide – Best cookies for each stage of the event
- Glenn Greenwald Sex Tape Leak: Journalist Cites “Maliciously Political” Motives
- Fortress Saga tier list – Ranking every hero
- Mini Heroes Magic Throne tier list
- Castle Duels tier list – Best Legendary and Epic cards
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- Cookie Run Kingdom Town Square Vault password
- How to Prepare and Dominate the Awakened Hollyberry Cookie Update
- Seven Deadly Sins Idle tier list and a reroll guide
- Overwatch Stadium Tier List: All Heroes Ranked
2025-05-31 16:28