Disney Confirms Two Huge Sequels Are Coming Soon

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Disney has announced sequels to two of its biggest movies – one from Disney and one from Pixar – and both are expected in theaters within the next few years.

During his first shareholder meeting as Disney’s CEO, Josh D’Amaro announced that both a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and a new Incredibles sequel are currently being worked on.

Both films are expected to open in multiplexes in the summer of 2028.

As a huge Disney and Pixar fan, I’ve seen how incredibly successful both the Incredibles and Inside Out franchises have been. For a long time, Incredibles 2, with its story about the Parr family’s superhero lives, held the record as Pixar’s highest-grossing movie ever, bringing in $1.24 billion worldwide. But just recently, Inside Out 2 blew everyone away and took the top spot, earning an amazing $1.69 billion!

The live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch was a massive success, bringing in $1.03 billion worldwide. This made it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2025, following Ne Zha 2, Zootopia 2, and Avatar: Fire and Ash. To put that in perspective, the original Lilo & Stitch film, which was already considered a hit when it came out in 2002, only earned $274 million in theaters.

Brad Bird, the creator of the Incredibles series, is writing the script for Incredibles 3. However, Peter Sohn – known for directing The Good Dinosaur and Elemental – will be directing the film, rather than Bird, who directed the first two installments.

Disney has several upcoming movie releases planned for 2028, including Lilo & Stitch 2 on May 26th and Incredibles 3 on June 16th. This year, Pixar will release Toy Story 5 on June 19th, and a live-action remake of Moana will hit theaters on July 10th. Currently, Pixar’s Hoppers is Disney’s only top-five hit of 2026, having earned $168.7 million and ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year so far.

The Best Movies on Disney+ Every Film Lover Must Watch

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Disney’s beloved animated shorts were so successful that they led to the release of their first full-length animated movie in 1937. Even if the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs doesn’t appeal to you, it’s a hugely important film to watch if you’re interested in the history of animation. Plus, a recent restoration makes the version available on Disney+ look beautiful.

Pinocchio (1940)

Many of Walt Disney’s first animated films are now classics, but they weren’t all successful when they first came out. Today, Pinocchio is considered a masterpiece, but it actually lost money when it was originally released, costing the studio about $1 million – a significant amount at the time. This was partly due to World War II, which was impacting movie ticket sales around the world. Disney continued to re-release the film in theaters over the years, and it eventually became profitable. It just proves that a movie’s story doesn’t end after its initial run. (And a tip: stick with the original animated version – the live-action remake isn’t worth watching unless you’re looking for a way to annoy someone!)

The Three Caballeros (1944)

While not considered a classic of early Disney, The Three Caballeros remains an interesting part of the studio’s story. Originally created as a series of shorts to celebrate Donald Duck’s tenth anniversary, the film features lovely hand-drawn animation, energetic music, and a pioneering blend of animation and live-action. The characters – Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles – have stayed popular over the years, with a ride at Epcot and a recent TV series, Legend of the Three Caballeros, to their credit.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty is arguably the most beautiful of all the classic Disney films, and it’s worth watching for the visuals alone. However, it’s baffling that the fairies spent over 15 years hiding with the princess without using any magic, only to let her wander into danger on the very day they were worried about! And then they used magic for a simple birthday party? It doesn’t make sense! Despite its beauty, I wouldn’t trust those fairies to look after my children.

Star Wars (1977)

It remains the original and, arguably, still the best. Even after 50 years, the dynamic between the characters, the thrilling adventure, and the iconic final attack on the Death Star haven’t been surpassed – and many have tried, often by simply copying it. While there are other ways to judge a film, I often find myself revisiting this one, watching it for what feels like the millionth time, despite having countless other choices available on streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon.

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

While many love The Muppet Movie, I’ve always preferred its sequel – a really fun and charming heist comedy featuring the Muppets. It’s consistently enjoyable, and honestly, if it had just a bit more of Charles Grodin trying to win over Miss Piggy, it would be a perfect movie!

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The Indiana Jones movies perfectly combined George Lucas’s love for classic, fun stories with Steven Spielberg’s incredible talent for exciting action scenes. This successful mix resulted in four additional Indiana Jones films (and a TV show), but the original, Raiders of the Lost Ark, remains the best. While it might not be Spielberg’s most emotionally deep film, it’s arguably the one worth preserving above all others – simply because it’s endlessly rewatchable and enjoyable.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Similar to This Is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride wasn’t a huge success when it first came out in theaters. However, over time and through repeated showings on cable TV, it became one of the most cherished children’s movies of the late 20th century. The film centers around a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading a story to his ill grandson (Fred Savage) – a tale of the courageous Westley (Cary Elwes) and his quest to save his true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), from a group of villains, including the cunning Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) and the skilled swordsman Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). While aimed at children, it’s a film that adults can enjoy just as much, with its clever humor, heartwarming romance, and thrilling action.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

It’s easy to argue that Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of the most important films of the past half-century – I’ve certainly made that case before. It was a turning point for animation, brilliantly blending it with live-action, but it’s also a fantastic detective story, a charming buddy cop movie, and a really funny comedy. Plus, it’s surprisingly scary for a kids’ film – I remember being genuinely terrified of Judge Doom as a child!

The Little Mermaid (1989)

I grew up watching The Little Mermaid over and over, and it, along with other Disney movies from that era, came out at the perfect time for those of us who were kids in the ’80s. Now that I’m sharing those films with my own children, I’m seeing them with fresh eyes. Honestly, as someone who’s a bit older and more critical, what strikes me most about The Little Mermaid now is how beautifully animated Ariel’s hair is underwater. It’s just so much fun to watch it float! Of course, the music is amazing, but the hair is really the standout!

The Rocketeer (1991)

“The Rocketeer” represents a fascinating moment for Disney – a try at creating their own superhero universe before they bought Marvel. While it didn’t quite take off, and the movie only lasted for one film despite a later animated series, it remains a beloved ’90s classic. Its historical setting actually helps it feel surprisingly fresh today, telling the story of an ordinary pilot who discovers a special jetpack and becomes a hero.

Aladdin (1992)

“A Whole New World” with Peabo and Regina, best end credits song ever. ’Nuff said!

Finding Nemo (2003)

While it might not be Pixar’s greatest film, Finding Nemo perfectly captures the studio’s spirit. It features an unlikely pair on an adventure – a cross-country trip, but underwater! – memorable supporting characters (the fish in the dentist’s office alone could star in their own movie), a thrilling climax, and a deeply emotional story about a father’s determination to rescue his son.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Without the pressure of establishing Spider-Man’s backstory and a new plot in one film, Sam Raimi crafted a compelling story in Spider-Man 2 focused on Peter Parker’s connection with a gifted scientist (Alfred Molina, delivering arguably the best performance in all the Spider-Man movies). This scientist is ultimately corrupted by his own unchecked ambition and a dangerous set of robotic arms.

Even after 20 years, the film still looks fantastic – the train sequence remains a standout moment in the entire Marvel universe. The way the movie relentlessly throws problem after problem at Peter Parker makes the ultimately happy, though somewhat poignant, ending all the more rewarding.

Inside Out (2015)

Even before becoming Pixar’s head of creative, Pete Docter was known as a brilliant mind at the studio. He contributed as a writer to beloved films like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and WALL-E, and directed some of Pixar’s most acclaimed movies: Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out. Inside Out is a remarkably creative story exploring the inner world of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, whose life is disrupted when her family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. This upheaval leads to a conflict between the personified emotions within her brain. The film’s depiction of Riley’s mind is visually stunning and consistently engaging. But beyond its inventive design, Inside Out is a profoundly insightful film about the essential roles of sadness and grief in our lives, and remains the high point of Docter’s impressive career.

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2026-03-18 22:58