Disney’s live-actionLilo & Stitchpulled in a jaw-dropping $14.5 million from Thursday previews, setting a new Memorial Day preview record for the studio — and the highest preview gross of 2025 so far. That figure is outpacing the preview hauls ofThe Little Mermaid($10.3 million),Aladdin($7 million), and evenSolo: A Star Wars Story($14.1 million). With strong word of mouth and an audience fueled by Gen Z and Millennials who grew up on the2002 animated classic, Disney is now projecting a four-day holiday debut of $165 million, which isinsaneand which would dethroneTop Gun: Maverick($160 million) as the biggest Memorial Day opening ever. Ironic, too, given thatLilo & Stitchis opening opposite Cruise’s swansong inMission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.
Originally slated for Disney+, the remake’s move to theatrical release — and modest $100 million budget — is looking like a masterstroke. Rideback, the production house behind the $1.1 billion-grossingAladdin, produced the film, withDean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On)directing. Critically,Lilo & Stitchis off to a solid start, currently holding a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes — the best for a Disney live-action remake sinceCruella. The film stars unfeasibly adorable newcomerMaia Kealohaas Lilo, withChris Sandersreturning to voice Stitch, plusHannah Waddingham, Billy Magnussen,Zach Galifianakis, andCourtney B. Vancerounding out the cast.
Why Is ‘Lilo and Stitch’ So Popular?
The film’s success is being driven not just by families, but by nostalgic young adults who viewLilo & Stitchas a defining childhood classic, and it’s that crossover appeal which may giveDisney its biggest live-action win in years— and a major rebound after the tepid response toSnow Whiteearlier this year. The movie’s success should be no surprise, either, given the popularity of Stitch as a character around the world. Stitch is actually one of the best-selling Disney characters in history, and regularly outsells even Mickey Mouse in Disney’s own stores. Meanwhile,theme parks are filled with Stitch merchandise, as well as spin-off characters, such as Leroy and Angel, other experiments from the lore of the story.
Lilo & Stitchis currently playing in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the movie.
Lilo & Stitch
