Anna Daniels
Disney’s Own Alien Just Gave It a Lesson—and Everyone Is Watching
Lilo & Stitch managed to achieve something unprecedented—a staggering $180 million at the domestic box office during Memorial Day, completely dominating the competition like Stitch after too much caffeine. This wasn’t merely a success; it was a significant correction. A celestial slap that reminded executives of their own products.
This remake was originally slated for a low-key release on Disney+, much like Moana 2, until someone in charge realized—oh right—people still enjoy watching films in theaters. Cue the sudden change of plans. Cue the frenzy. Cue the profits.
And Hollywood? It’s buzzing with excitement.
Why This Could Change Everything (Or Should)
Let’s dive into the figures. They’re astonishing—in a very positive way.
$183 million domestically. $341.7 million globally. In just three and a half days.
The original 2002 Lilo & Stitch? It accumulated a total of $273.1M throughout its initial run.
Additionally:
It now boasts the record for the largest Memorial Day opening ever, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick. Tom Cruise must be scratching his head, wondering, “What just happened?”
Yet, the most surprising aspect isn’t its earnings—it’s how close it was to never earning anything at all. Disney was all set to shove this remake into obscurity, similar to a Netflix original, but with mouse ears.
Instead, it surpassed the total box office earnings of Snow White (the remake Disney decided to promote) in just 72 hours.
That’s not just irony; it’s corporate negligence.
The Untold Narrative: A Timely Stitch Saves Disney
Live-action adaptations aren’t a new thing. In fact, they’ve become a staple for Disney. However, Lilo & Stitch stands apart from the rest. It’s more unusual. It’s more poignant. Set in Hawai’i without the traditional colonial narrative. Unlike The Little Mermaid or Aladdin, it didn’t depend on nostalgia or chart-topping songs—just raw emotional resonance and captivating visual storytelling.
The outcome? Not only did it outperform the openings of The Jungle Book, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, it’s now closely approaching Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. The billion-dollar club is calling.
Granted, critics aren’t showering it with praise (69% on Rotten Tomatoes), but the audience response is a staggering 94% audience score. That’s considered “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s generating more buzz than many upcoming 2025 summer releases. A Disney spokesperson supposedly told Variety, “We anticipated strong performance.” Translation: “We had no clue.”
In the meantime, other studios are feeling uneasy. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning achieved a franchise-high $75M… yet still got overshadowed. Final Destination: Bloodlines plummeted by 63% compared to last week. A24’s Friendship managed a moderate indie triumph, but this weekend truly belonged to an extraterrestrial creature who defies the laws of nature.
This isn’t just a coincidence. It’s a reckoning.
Choose a Side: Nostalgia Factory or Box Office Powerhouse?
So, what’s next? Disney could mistakenly conclude (again) that greenlighting Bambi: The Vengeance Chronicles is the way to go. Or perhaps—just perhaps—it will understand that genuinely caring about storytelling and theatrical presentations is a smarter choice than another haphazard direct-to-streaming debacle.
Because the uncomfortable reality is: Lilo & Stitch didn’t shine despite its uniqueness—it flourished because of it. It’s like E.T. after an espresso shot. A wild social media phenomenon intertwined with themes of found family.
You either relished every moment—or questioned why Stitch sounds like a creature on a kazoo binge.
Whichever the case, it made you engage.
