Lilo & Stitch Shatters Box Office Records, Outperforming Mission: Impossible!

Over the weekend, the new Disney live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch broke multiple records and claimed the top spot at the box office, outperforming Mission: Impossible – Fallout featuring Tom Cruise. This success marks another significant achievement for Disney’s lineup of live-action remakes, signaling a promising future for upcoming productions in this genre. Given its impressive earnings thus far, Lilo & Stitch now stands as a strong contender for the biggest film of the year.

In the lineup of eagerly awaited summer movies in 2025, the film “Lilo & Stitch” has surprisingly taken a leading position. Initially intended for release on Disney+, the movie’s direction shifted to theaters early in production, and it seems this move has proven exceptionally profitable. Reflecting on Disney’s successful films from 2024, “Lilo & Stitch” is already showing promising box office figures that rival those of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Moana 2.” Given the underwhelming performance of this year’s “Snow White,” Disney can undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief with such encouraging results.

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch Remake Made $341M At The Global Box Office

The Film’s Worldwide Total Beat Out A Franchise Best Opening For Mission: Impossible 8

Over the past weekend, global box offices saw a packed schedule, yet as reported by Deadline, it was Lilo & Stitch that emerged triumphant, raking in an impressive total of $341 million. This figure is noteworthy given that it surpassed predictions for the film, with many anticipating only around $100 million in domestic earnings for the four-day weekend. Even within the U.S., the movie outshone expectations, generating $145.5 million over the regular three-day stretch, and an astonishing $183 million during the extended Memorial Day weekend.

The numbers these films have garnered are truly astounding, particularly when taking into account the strong competition from movies like “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Lilo & Stitch.” Notably, “Lilo & Stitch” achieved an impressive opening for its franchise, earning a whopping $204 million globally. These impressive showings suggest a thriving box office environment, even with movies like “Sinners,” “Thunderbolts,” and “Final Destination: Bloodlines” also performing well in theaters concurrently. It seems that movie-going was profitable this past weekend, and hopefully, this trend will continue throughout the summer.

Lilo & Stitch Broke A Memorial Day Record Previously Held By Another Tom Cruise Movie

Top Gun: Maverick Previously Held The Record For The Biggest Memorial Day Opening

Over the Memorial Day weekend, which is a significant period at the cinema with many summer blockbusters being unveiled, Lilo & Stitch has astonishingly set a new record as the highest-grossing domestic weekend ever during that timeframe. Previously,

Memorial Day Release Film Domestic Opening Total Worldwide Box Office
Lilo & Stitch $183 million
Top Gun: Maverick $160.5 million $1.49 billion
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $139.8 million $961.6 million
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $126.9 million $786.6 million
X-Men: The Last Stand $122.8 million $460.4 million
The Little Mermaid $118.8 million $569.6 million
Fast & Furious 6 $117 million $788.6 million
Aladdin $116.8 million $1.05 billion
X-Men: Days of Future Past $110.5 million $746 million
The Hangover Part II $103.4 million $586.7 million

Over these holiday weekends, it’s quite remarkable that the release of Lilo & Stitch has secured the second-highest opening of all time, trailing just behind Black Panther. Given its PG rating and the impressive earnings of analogous films in the same bracket, I have high hopes that this movie will rake in a substantial amount for Disney. This summer, Lilo & Stitch is poised to shatter records during its extended run, with minimal competition from Karate Kid: Legends this weekend, indicating only a minor dip in earnings for its second week.

How Does Lilo & Stitch’s Box Office Compare To Other Disney Remakes?

Lilo & Stitch Has One Of The Strongest Openings For Disney’s Remakes Yet

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must say that Lilo & Stitch has truly left an impact when it comes to films similar to its genre. Among Disney’s remakes, only The Lion King had a more impressive domestic debut with a whopping $191.8 million. This is astounding in itself, and the fact that Lilo & Stitch almost reached those heights is quite remarkable. The latest installment has even surpassed the domestic openings of live-action classics like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland. All these films eventually grossed over $1 billion at the global box office, making the success of Lilo & Stitch all the more impressive.

Disney Remake Opening Weekend Worldwide Box Office Total
The Lion King (2019) $191.8 million $1,662,020,819
Beauty and the Beast (2017) $174.8 million $1,263,521,126
Aladdin (2019) $91.5 million $1,050,693,953
Alice in Wonderland (2010) $116 million $1,025,467,110
The Jungle Book (2016) $103 million $966,550,600
Maleficent (2014) $69 million $759,853,685
The Little Mermaid (2023) $95 million $569,626,289
Cinderella (2015) $67 million $542,358,331

It’s quite astonishing when you consider that the 2002 original animated Lilo & Stitch made $273 million worldwide with a budget of $80 million. Yet, the remake managed to surpass that total box office earnings during its first weekend alone! This is an outstanding feat for the new movie, and it’s looking likely that it will not only be one of the biggest films this year but also one of the most financially rewarding.

Why Did Lilo & Stitch Remake Become A Major Box Office Success In Just One Weekend?

There Are Several Reasons Why Lilo & Stitch Has Performed So Well

Regarding Lilo & Stitch, it’s absolutely astounding how well this new performance is doing, given its prior success and high audience anticipation. It’s no secret that Lilo & Stitch is a colossal franchise – last year alone, merchandise sales surpassed $2.5 billion, indicating strong interest in the latest film. This massive box office success can be attributed to several factors: the popularity of merchandise, nostalgia among Millennial and Gen Z viewers who grew up with the original series, and Stitch’s universal appeal that transcends borders.

Above all, it’s crucial to note that the movie had a relatively small production cost. Unlike films such as The Little Mermaid and Snow White, which carried hefty budgets over $240 million, Lilo & Stitch was produced on a significantly more affordable scale of around $100 million. With its playful attitude and amusing marketing gimmicks, like Stitch popcorn containers, the film managed to stand out from the more serious live-action adaptations, giving off an air of enjoyable cinema experience.

Does Lilo & Stitch Have A Chance To Become The First $1B Hollywood Movie In 2025?

$1 Billion Is Looking More Likely For Lilo & Stitch With Each Passing Day

Following a remarkable debut at the box office in April, there was speculation that A Minecraft Movie could earn $1 billion internationally. However, with current earnings of $940 million (having already been released digitally), it appears highly improbable to reach this milestone now. On the other hand, Lilo & Stitch’s journey towards $1 billion seems increasingly likely. The film’s domestic opening is more substantial, and its reviews are stronger, hinting at a potentially longer and more successful run ahead.

To put it simply, only the Chinese film Ne Zha 2 has surpassed the $1 billion mark at the global box office this year. However, this might not remain the case for long. As of now, Lilo & Stitch is on track to reach that same impressive figure, making it the first Hollywood movie of 2025 expected to cross the $1 billion threshold. The majority of Ne Zha 2’s earnings came from the Chinese market, but Lilo & Stitch’s success is likely to be more widespread.

What Does The $341M Global Box Office Mean For The Future Of Lilo & Stitch Live-Action?

Disney Seems To Have Another Profitable Franchise On Their Hands

If Lilo & Stitch maintains its current level of popularity, it’s highly likely that a follow-up movie will be produced. Interestingly, producing sequels or spin-offs from successful live-action Disney remakes has proven challenging. For instance, plans for a Gaston spinoff from Beauty and the Beast didn’t come to fruition, and discussions about an Aladdin 2 have ceased.

Considering these successful box office results, it’s almost inevitable that Disney will consider making a sequel to this movie. With an abundance of material from the original “Lilo & Stitch,” such as direct-to-video sequels like “Stitch! The Movie,” “Leroy and Stitch,” and “Lilo & Stitch 2,” along with a TV series, there’s plenty of content that could be utilized for another film. Much like how “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” have spawned follow-ups, it seems likely that this franchise will also become a priority for the studio.

The animated movie “Lilo & Stitch” has already become a massive hit for Disney. Given its modest budget and positive audience response, it’s predicted to keep raking in substantial earnings in the near future. Since it’s highly probable that the film has already covered its production and advertising expenses, in the coming weeks and months, “Lilo & Stitch” is expected to generate nothing but profit for Disney. This success is likely to be a notable one that Disney will strive to emulate in the years to come.

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2025-05-27 12:41