Why Disney’s Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Succeeded Where Snow White Failed

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An unexpected duo took over the box office: an inextinguishable, invincible extraterrestrial surfer and a charismatic action star known for walking on wings and leaping from couches. However, this past weekend, the live-action remake of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” shattered all Memorial Day box office records together.

1) In a surprising turn of events, the movie set in Hawaii outperformed initial predictions, earning an impressive $183 million in North America during its opening weekend. Meanwhile, the more mature-oriented M:I8 raked in $77.5 million, setting a new franchise record for Paramount’s 29-year-old spy series and surpassing the opening earnings of Mission: Impossible — Fallout. This, along with other films like Friendship, The Last Rodeo, older hits such as Thunderbolts*, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and Sinners, contributed to a staggering cumulative total of $322 million over the four-day holiday release period. This impressive figure not only surpassed the previous Memorial Day record of $314 million set in 2013 but also dethroned Top Gun: Maverick as the highest single-film opening during that crucial summer weekend, a title now held by none other than Lilo.

The summary is that Hollywood’s box office revenue is projected to reach an impressive $4.2 billion this summer, thanks to the numerous high-quality blockbusters set to premiere following years of industry disruptions. However, the costly production and marketing of “Final Reckoning,” estimated at a whopping $400 million plus another $100 million, means it will continue to lose money despite earning $204.5 million worldwide. Conversely, Disney seems poised for another billion-dollar success with “Lilo & Stitch,” offering some relief after the flop of another live-action remake earlier in the year, “Snow White,” which reportedly cost between $240 and $270 million but grossed only $205 million due to negative word-of-mouth.

Last weekend, Disney’s animated film Lilo earned an astounding $314.7 million worldwide, while Pixar’s Inside Out 2 started off more quietly with $295 million before eventually amassing a staggering $1.69 billion globally. Interestingly, some of Disney’s previous live-action adaptations of classic animated tales didn’t fare as well at the box office – Cruella, a spinoff from 101 Dalmatians released in 2021, made $223 million on a budget of $100 million; Mary Poppins Returns, which came out in 2018, grossed $362 million against a budget of $130 million. However, Lilo is demonstrating that non-animated remakes can still be incredibly profitable ventures. This news undoubtedly brings comfort to Universal, as they are planning to release a live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon on June 13, have a sequel in the works, and have made an interactive How to Train Your Dragon experience with roller coasters and stage shows a key feature of their newly opened theme park, Epic Universe.

As a movie enthusiast, I often find myself questioning the trend of reimagining classic films as live-action remakes. To me, it seems like these productions are simply attempting to capitalize on established franchises and familiar characters – a strategy that sometimes feels more like a calculated cash grab than a genuine creative endeavor. Yet, despite my reservations, I can’t help but notice that these remakes continue to be produced, and audiences still flock to theaters to watch them. Why is it that we keep consuming this “refreshed” content, which often feels like the same story told in a slightly different way?

In essence, the reasoning behind studios approving remakes such as “Lilo & Stitch” is largely based on specific statistical data. As reported by Deadline, the “Lilo & Stitch” franchise – comprising the initial movie, direct-to-video films, a TV series, and various other animated spinoffs – amassed more than half a billion hours of viewership on Disney+. This franchise also consistently sells well in retail, with items like collectible figures, dog collars, pillow buddies, and more generating billions of dollars worldwide. In 2024 alone, they managed to earn $2.5 billion. Add to that the strong wave of millennial nostalgia, and you get exactly the kind of pre-release buzz that leads to box office hits. It’s quite surprising to remember that when first announced in 2018, the live-action “Lilo” was initially planned as a straight-to-streaming release to boost the studio’s emerging OTT service, Disney+.

A significant aspect of Lilo’s success can be attributed to its unique interpretation of “live-action.” Unlike films such as Snow White, Cruella, and Mary Poppins, which primarily feature real actors, Lilo incorporates a blend of live-action and animated elements, such as the CGI representation of various characters. As David A. Gross, publisher of the FranchiseRE entertainment-industry newsletter, points out, these films can be seen as hybrids. They integrate fantasy creatures with human characters in realistic settings, expanding the storytelling possibilities visually and stimulating our imagination, making the overall experience more immersive and entertaining.

Hybrid films like “Minecraft” and “Sonic the Hedgehog”, which blend real actors with computer-generated creatures, have been successful recently. However, adapting animated fairy tales into live action has not been as effective, according to Gross. He explains that retelling these stories can make them seem less magical, reducing their impact. Live-action versions often lack the wide emotional range and expressiveness found in animated versions, which may be why they’re currently facing challenges.

Just last month, Disney unveiled their intention to create fewer live-action films adapted from their classic animations. However, the upcoming remake of “Moana,” produced by Mark Ronson and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was only released nine years ago, seems to be setting new standards for next year’s releases. As for what lies beyond that, we can only speculate.

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2025-05-28 00:54