2025 witnessed the unveiling of two contrasting live-action reboots from Disney, among which the latest adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch” surpassed the entire box office earnings of “Snow White” in just two weekends. Although certain alterations in “Lilo & Stitch” have sparked debates, such as changes to the concept of Ohana, the film has generally been praised by both audiences and critics. Its remarkable performance so far is particularly noteworthy, especially when considering other Disney remakes.
Over the summer of 2025, I’ve been eagerly awaiting some highly anticipated movies, and “Lilo & Stitch” has certainly lived up to the hype, setting itself on course to be one of the biggest blockbusters this year. Despite some doubts following the underperformance of films like “The Little Mermaid,” it appears that audiences haven’t lost their enthusiasm for Disney’s remakes just yet. This is particularly intriguing when comparing the film’s performance against Disney’s latest box office flop, “Snow White.” It seems there might be factors that contributed to such a difference in reception.
Lilo & Stitch’s Box Office Numbers Compared To Snow White
The New Film Is Already Performing Much Better Than The First Disney Remake Of 2025
Compared to this year’s initial release, “Snow White”, “Lilo & Stitch” has shown significantly better box office success. Despite a decent opening of $42.2 million for “Snow White”, the movie experienced a steep decline in its second weekend with an unprecedented -66.4% drop among live-action Disney remakes. This led to a total earnings of only $205.5 million, an amount falling short not just of the estimated production budget (ranging from $230-$270 million), but also failing to cover marketing expenses. In contrast, “Snow White” has been one of Disney’s recent flops; however, “Lilo & Stitch” is compensating for this disappointment by delivering better performance at the box office.
| Film | First Weekend Three-Day Gross | Second Weekend Gross | Second Weekend Drop | Domestic Total | Worldwide Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow White | $42.2 million | $14.2 million | -66.4% | $87,202,420 | $205,543,892 |
| Lilo & Stitch | $146 million | $61.8 million | -57.7% | $278,930,108 | $613,458,645 |
As a movie critic, I must say that the latest Disney remake has been quite impressive so far. In just two weekends, it’s managed to outshine many other Disney reboots in terms of domestic earnings, with only The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast surpassing its $278 million take. This means that it’s already standing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Disney’s all-time greatest hits, such as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin.
However, a higher than usual dropoff in earnings during its second weekend (-57.7%) suggests that the film’s future performance might be a bit harder to predict, given that it didn’t face much new competition over the weekend. The upcoming weeks will definitely be interesting as we see how this remake fares against the rest of Disney’s stellar lineup.
Why Lilo & Stitch Has Been So Huge At The Box Office
The Film Appeals To Multiple Generations And Has International Appeal
Lilo & Stitch, although not universally adored, remains one of Disney’s most successful live-action remakes for several reasons. The character Stitch has proven to be a lucrative brand for the studio, with his design appealing significantly across international markets and merchandise sales thriving. The groundwork for this enduring popularity was laid by the 2002 film, its subsequent TV series spinoffs, and direct-to-video films. Now, many parents who were initially introduced to the original film are themselves bringing their children to watch the remake, as they too have grown fond of Stitch and his adventures.
Over the bustling holiday weekend, I found myself drawn to the cinemas by the enticing counterprogramming of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” This film has garnered a powerful response, securing an A- CinemaScore, which is quite impressive!
“Lilo & Stitch” broke several holiday records and this new movie seemed to offer a captivating science-fiction storyline that would appeal to families. Moreover, the original film still resonates strongly with many of us, and its heartwarming focus on family values remains memorable. Unlike “Snow White,” which has somewhat faded from our collective memory, this movie is one that many are eager to revisit, even after all these years since its initial release.
Lilo & Stitch Didn’t Have The Same Controversy As Snow White
The Last Disney Film Stirred Up A Few Kinds Of Issues
There were several mishaps during the manufacturing and marketing of the movie “Snow White,” leading to complications with its launch. Though concerns over Rachel Zegler’s casting, due to her not having a traditionally white complexion, appeared to be minor issues for many viewers, the main star stirred up some controversy due to her remarks.
Zegler expressed that the original Snow White film was outdated, which some viewers perceived as harsh criticism. This sparked numerous negative discussions about the movie on the internet well before its premiere.
The primary concern revolves around events that unfolded in the Gaza Strip following the movie’s production, along with the challenges that arose as a result. It is important to note that Gal Gadot, being Israeli and having served in the IDF, has not spoken much about her political views during promotions. In contrast, Zegler has openly and passionately expressed support for Palestine. These factors, coupled with Disney’s handling of the situation, have sparked apprehension from various quarters regarding the film.
Lilo & Stitch‘s modifications have stirred up debates, particularly regarding its conclusion. However, these discussions are not comparable to the issues faced during the production of films like Snow White, which grappled with character design concerns. Instead, the debates surrounding Lilo & Stitch mainly revolve around content and creative decisions, rather than deeper sociopolitical convictions.
Will Lilo & Stitch Now Make $1 Billion At The Box Office?
The Film’s Chances Are Excellent, But Not Guaranteed
2025 summer season is kicking off, and it’s still unclear if the animated film “Lilo & Stitch” will reach $1 billion in earnings. The film’s second-weekend box office drop wasn’t spectacular but was also not disappointing; it seems probable that it will earn another $387 million. Moreover, the film has one more weekend without any major competition for family audiences, as movies like “Ballerina” and “The Life of Chuck” could serve as alternative options to the popular Disney movie. Considering all these factors, it’s expected that “Lilo & Stitch” will have at least another strong weekend before encountering tougher competition.
Following the debut of “How to Train Your Dragon“, the situation might shift. Although “How to Train Your Dragon ” might have a different tone compared to the Disney remake, it caters to a similar audience as a revamped classic animation, which could potentially reduce “Lilo & Stitch“‘s box office earnings for the rest of June. With positive responses from CinemaCon for the upcoming Universal movie and a busy summer season approaching, “Lilo & Stitch ” has a good chance of reaching a billion dollars in total, but it may end up with a final box office performance closer to that of “Minecraft“.
What Lilo & Stitch And Snow White Mean For Disney’s Live-Action Remakes
2025’s Remakes Give A Strange View Of What Is To Come
Disney had been planning multiple live-action adaptations for the upcoming years, but the situation appeared grim just a few weeks back. The financial loss from the release of Snow White was significant for Disney, and following the underperformance of The Little Mermaid in 2023, there were signs of major adjustments. There seemed to be some uncertainty about proceeding with new adaptations, which ultimately led to a pause in the development of a Tangled remake. However, recent events have brought about a dramatic shift in perspective.
One key takeaway for Disney from Lilo & Stitch could be the need to reduce expenses. If the production cost of Snow White had been around $100 million, like Lilo & Stitch, its significant loss might not have been as severe. Despite uncertainty about which remakes will succeed and which won’t, creating these films at a lower budget would help the studio produce more remakes without putting so much strain on each release, thus managing the risk better.
It’s not always easy to keep costs down, especially in Hollywood where things tend to get pricey. Remarkably, Lilo & Stitch manages to look as great as it does for its budget. The film’s strong box office performance suggests that its emotional core resonates deeply with viewers. Unfortunately, Snow White didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, but Disney’s latest release has had an incredible run. Here’s hoping they can recreate this success in the future.
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2025-06-05 17:19